2022_10_24 Insight Post- Kim Feld

  -   October 24, 2022

This week’s reading- Acts 24 & 25

As I read through Acts 24, I’m struck by the opportunity that Felix and Drusilla lost. Based on Paul’s treatment, it doesn’t appear that Felix believed the Jews who opposed Paul had an actual case. Felix says that he was waiting for Lysias to arrive before rendering a decision, but apparently, Lysias never came. Was Felix’s true motivation his hope for a bribe from Paul? Let’s take a look at this passage from Acts 24:

22 At that point, Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.” 23 He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.

24 A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” 26 He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.

Verse 27 tells us that this went on for two years! Felix (and possibly Drusilla) spoke with Paul many times, with Paul using the opportunity to talk with them about Jesus. The passage above says that Felix was frightened by some things Paul shared, so Paul’s words seemed to have an impact. And yet, there’s no indication that all those conversations resulted in any life change for Felix. What a lost opportunity!

I have a list of people whose salvation I pray for every day. The list includes friends, family members, and some loved ones of my friends. I pray that God will make Himself known to them and that they will be drawn by His loving kindness. I pray that their eyes will be opened to truth and that they will recognize their need for a savior. And I pray that God will use the people they cross paths with that day to point the way to Him. I believe that God hears my prayers and desires to answer them, but He respects the choice that the people on my list will ultimately make.

Whose salvation are you praying for today?

10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 2 Corinthians 7:10, NLT