The Phil Files

It snowed in Abilene again — second time in less than a week — and this is March. Surprise!

I was caught totally off guard today when one of our folks at the office said, “Oh, my! It’s really coming down.”

A few dandruff style snowflakes had come down on my way to the office this morning, but I had been working away about an hour and hadn’t looked out the windows. To my great surprise, in that short amount of time, the ground had become completely covered by a blanket of new snow. It was beautiful.

So tonight, as I’m winding my way down to sleep time, I read through the ending of the book of Acts (chapters 24-28). Two things really grabbed my heart, things I desperately needed to hear and have impact my attitude and emotions.

First, Paul winds his way through the unfair legal system in these chapters. His accusers make false charges that can’t be proven. Those hearing his case as judges, either want a bribe, want to please folks politically, or simply want some entertainment. Repeatedly the courts find him innocent and emphasize that he has done nothing that warrants prison or death. While all that sounds nice, maybe even encouraging, Pilate said the same things about Jesus, yet had him flogged and then crucified. To say life isn’t fair is trite. This is especially true with all the injustices hoisted upon Jesus so they could hang him on a tree in ridicule. I remember the line in the Princess Bride movie that went something like this: “Life isn’t fair and anyone telling you something different is trying to sell you something.” I think I need to quit whining so much, and stay focused on the mission at hand.

Second, Paul repeatedly emphasizes that the core issue of the message that got him in trouble has one central focus: God raised Jesus from the death. This was his message, his hope, and his passion. When I think about the passionate ol’ apostle to the nations, I see the resurrection of Jesus more than preaching; the power of the resurrection is demonstrated. God turned the greatest enemy of the early church into its great missionary. God used untimely disagreements, shipwrecks, detours, assassination plots, corrupt judges, unscrupulous religious leaders, and imprisonment to bring the message of grace to rulers, officials, and courts all over the Roman Empire. I know I need to quit whining and start praying … for God to pour out His Spirit more powerfully in my life and the life of our church. I need to humbly recognize that God is the Master of the unexpected and impossible. I need to pray for you, and I need you to pray for me, this prayer of Paul:

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that can be invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way (Ephesians 1:17-22 TNIV).