Arrested, by Christ
- Mark Lauterbach
- Jun 24, 2008
- Series: Home page
Paul was accustomed to opposition. As he travelled from city to city preaching Christ, he faced fierce enemies of the Gospel. His pattern was to flee from the city when his message was no longer welcome. Except this time.
On his way to Jerusalem, he is warned by the Spirit that he will face prison and hardships. As he passes through Type and Caesarea, further warnings of suffering are given. But this time he does not turn back. Rather, he walks into the teeth of the storm.
Why? Is Paul now enjoying suffering? Is he a rebel against all counsel? He had already been beaten with rods 3 times. He had already been whipped with 39 lashes five times. He had suffered shipwreck, threats against his life, hunger and thirst. And still he goes on.
No, Paul was not a rebel. He was a passionate follower of Jesus. That is what he says in Acts 21:13. He is READY to be imprisoned and to die for the same of Jesus Name. He is passionate about the Name of Christ. Christ matters to him more than comfort, more than freedom, more than life itself. why?
Paul had been seized by the love of Christ. He has been brought into the triumph of the cross and the empty tomb. Death was no more a threat. Final judgment had already been faced by his Savior and Paul was free. Future glory would be so great that the sting of all present suffering would be swallowed up. Paul had been seized by the love of Christ and was satisifed in the love of Christ.
This meant God had acted upon Paul's heart. His sinful self-orientation had been disrupted by the power of Christ in the Spirit. He no longer loved his life. He was captivated by the glory of Christ. This is the new birth.
Paul applied this truth to his life every day. He faced temptations to other lovers. He had friends, like Demas, who abandoned Christ because they loved this present world. Paul fought off all other lovers by pressing into the love of Christ and being satisfied with Him.
When we have pressed into Christ -- when we have tasted the sweetness of Christ -- when we have been satisfied with the One who is the Fountain of Living Waters -- we will be ready to follow Christ at any cost. For what we want is to obey Jesus and have Him.
Today the problem is not persecution for us in San Diego. The problem is we are comfortable. We face the temptation of prosperity. We enjoy fellowship with each other and gather on Sunday in order to see each other -- and in that, we miss Christ. We fill our lives with many fun activities, and is so doing fail to find our satisfaction in Christ.
Christ invites us to draw near to Him. He is ready, as soon as we turn, to shower us with the glory of His grace. He would have is satisfied in him.