Were you ever in a frightening experience, and someone said, “Don't be afraid!”? Perhaps you thought, “How could I be anything else but afraid?” You knew that your problem was greater, and stronger, than the person who was trying to comfort you.
Do you know, there IS Someone who is greater and stronger than all your fears? (Hebrews 2:11-18.) Wouldn’t you like to have real comfort and strength in life’s many difficulties? It is possible!
Paul was in court facing trial. His “crime” was, that he went about preaching that Jesus Himself had paid for all our sins by dying for us. (1stCorinthians 15:3-4.) He taught that Jesus was alive from the dead, and was willing and able to freely save all who would trust in Him as Saviour. (Acts 13:37-41.) Paul also claimed that Jesus had appeared to him, and sent him out to preach these things. (Acts 26:12-18.)
But Paul’s judge and jury, the High Priest and the religious council of Pharisees and Sadducees, were determined to put an end to his preaching!
Paul knew that the Sadducees did not believe in any resurrection from the dead, but that the Pharisees did. So, Paul said, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.” When he said this, a dispute broke out … some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man, what if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.” (verses 6-10.)
Was there no comfort or hope to be had for Paul?
“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about Me here in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.’” (verse 11.) Had the One who was telling him to have courage under these threats, greater influence and power than this wicked Jewish court? Could these words assure him of comfort and strength in the midst of such great danger?
YES! The Lord who spoke to him was the One who had loved Paul enough to die for a sinner like him, and had been raised from the dead to save and keep him. Paul could certainly take comfort and strength from the words of his ALMIGHTY LORD!
And I, too, can take great comfort and strength from the words the Lord has given us in the Bible. (Psalm 27:1-8. 2ndPeter 1:1-4.) “You are my Refuge and Shield; I have put my hope in Your Word.” (Psalm 119:114.) Of course, it is only the true child of God (John 1:12-13.) who will find words such as these to be of real comfort and strength.
CAN YOU?
Read Acts chapter 23, verses 6-11.
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