Andrew Murray was a prolific author who wrote over 240 books and as a man of prayer he has inspired many. It is said that “God used each trial to remove all that hindered his devotion to Christ.”  In one of his publications he quoted Peter who wrote : “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which… hath begotten us again unto a lively hope …and are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.”  That is where we find Paul today in Acts 25…being kept by God’s power that he might fulfill His assignment that Paul would “carry the name [of Jesus] before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel.” Yesterday, Paul had the open door to bring Jesus Christ to the Governor Felix but after two years he saw no fruit. Have you witnessed over and over and yet seen no fruit? Take heart you are not alone. Today, Paul will have the opportunity to present Jesus Christ and His resurrection to a new Governor, Festus and King Agrippa and his sister, Bernice. Tomorrow we will hear his message and see the response–so stay tuned!

What things do we learn in this chapter that should encourage us? One is that we are kept by the power of God until our work is finished on this earth and for Paul that is a future event for Jesus promised him that he would one day be in Rome to preach to Nero and other notables. Secondly, as Andrew Murray explained: “We are begotten again to an inheritance kept in Heaven for us; and we are kept here on earth by the power of God.” And so we see that God’s keeping power has preserved Paul for yet another opening to present the truth of the resurrected Christ to those in need of hearing the gospel. This reminds us of another person, Queen Esther, who was “kept” by God’s power in her position so that she might be available to seek the removal of an edict to destroy all Jews that Haman had sought through flattery and falseness (ring a bell?) from King Ahasuerus.

Stop Beloved stop and think…why are you here? It is so that you, like Queen Esther, Paul and many others through the centuries may be strategically placed to present Christ to those who are lost and will one day enter a Christ-less eternity if it were not for you. This should cause us to reflect upon each divine opportunity God gives to us each day. Will you humbly thank God for each one you meet either personally or in cyberspace and be prepared as Paul was to present Christ?