Acts 26:5-32 Paul

28 Days No Alcohol, No Weed & No Gambling...Failing miserably with chew.  Nicotine is a crutch and vice.

I just don't know what to do about chew.  The first day and a half was tough but then I broke.  I am going to continue to read the Bible every day, pray, be thankful and try.  I am thankful to God for providing for me.  My business is going well.  I keep finding new things and online sales are solid.  I am lucky to have work that lets me get out, work, do a good job for my customers and still have time to read and study the Bible. 

I've been reading Acts which is difficult but interesting and rich in historical references.  Romans, Greeks, Jews and Gentiles.  Paul states in 5 that, "I lived as a Pharisee. And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today." - NIV 9 "I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth." - NIV   13  "...I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions." - NIV Later in 20 Paul states, "I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." - NIV

These are just pieces but this chapter gives a good outline of Paul's conversion.  Paul had been religious all his life and before God appeared to him he was active in seeking out followers of the Way (Jesus) and trying to punish them.  He even mentions casting his vote and guarding the clothes of people who were killing Christians.  When Jesus appears to him, he changes his ways and puts his efforts into teaching the message of Jesus. 

It is interesting because of his religious background he is able to to talk to the Jewish leaders about the laws of Moses and he has the understanding to explain how Jesus through his life, suffering, death and resurrection is able to fulfill all the prophecies.  He travels everywhere and spreads the word.  He puts passion and energy into doing what Jesus told him to do.  He also gets to the heart of it for the Gentiles who didn't have the religious training.  He teaches about repentance and love.  Paul was the perfect guy for the job because he could talk to everyone about Jesus. 

What sunk in for me was the repeated focus on Jesus as being a living person, being put to death and resurrected.  I like to focus on the love, love, love in the Bible.  It is important for me to remember that it isn't just a philosophy and a story but God in the flesh who lived on Earth and died for our sins.  Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." - NIV

Okay, that comes later in Romans, but is at the heart of what Paul was teaching throughout his travels in Acts. 

What I am going to remember tomorrow is that.  Jesus really died for our sins.  100% it really happened.  God raised him from the dead.  That is how I am saved from my sinful nature that I can not control.  I will work hard to keep the commandments of love because love really is a beautiful thing and I will remember that all this wasn't just a story to teach about love, but these things really happened.  My faith in Jesus is faith, but there were people who walked with him, talked with him and saw him die and then live again.  It isn't just a fairy tale.

I'm starting to take some notes on the concept of the living Word.  More of a meta-physical concept but I think exploring it will bring more to light for me.  Because there are times when I pray and read the Bible that the words do change how I'm thinking about something.  Drugs and lust can change our thinking and actions.  The positive words of the Bible can too.  I mentioned Descartes in another post with cognito ergo sum being a proof for self-awareness.  Jesus love could be an awakening awareness at the core level of others.  So we move towards not only loving and being aware of ourselves, but loving and being aware of others.  Change in the brain.  If we really become new in Jesus couldn't it be possible that the words of the Bible actually create a physical change in our brains and way of thinking?  That's why AA and Jung get into the spiritual need for a change from chemical dependency?  Just some random but interesting thoughts.