Friday, October 25, 2013

Paul Email -23Oct2013- Acts 24 Follower of "the Way"

How you doin? Just a quick reminder, God is in a good mood. I just feel so much love for Him and loved by Him. I love being obedient to him. Not well behaved (I'm still waiting for that), but obedient to His call and leading. I believe my behavior will improve as I follow Him. God is really the coolest cat I've ever met. He's so much fun to be with. Acts 24 today.
Paul's life after his encounter with Jesus seems to be one big saga. I love it. Not only does he have one of the coolest names out there, but his commitment to follow the "Way" is something to look at. While standing trial in Caesarea as a continuation from Jerusalem he says this in verses 14-16:
"However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man." WOW!!!!!!! I couldn't say it better then that. Worshiping God as a follower of the Way. Jesus is the Way. In John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." I remember hearing about people trying to find themselves or finding their way. Jesus is the Way. If I find my Way, I'll find myself... Jesus abounds in me. COME ON!!!!!!! That's a good word.

Verse 16 is challenging me. Is my conscience clear before God and man? That's a tough question. I immediate respond is yes, but as I think about it on Spiritual terms, I need Jesus. SAY WORD!!!!!!! Verse 16 references Acts 23:1, which I spoke about yesterday...
“My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” POWERFUL!!!!!!! How do I clear my conscience before God. Can I honestly look Him in the face and say "I give you my all". Can I honestly say "I lay down my life to you in worship". Jesus gave His life for me, so I can be reconciled with the Father. WOW!!!!!!! You would think that it wouldn't be so hard to follow the Way. Dear Jesus, increase my desire to follow you. Hear Him, listen to Him, see Him, pay attention to Him, so you can follow Him today.
PS  I can't help but to remember throughout the gospels that ALL who went to where Jesus was (followed Him) or welcomed Him when He came to them, were sozo-ed (saved, healed, delivered). All is well in His Presence. Perhaps not externally, definitely internally. I need to follow him to stay in His Presence. It shouldn't be too hard... I followed the Grateful Dead and Phish for years. It's Jesus' turn. AWESOME!!!!!!!

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