Tears in a Bottle

Acts 25:18-27

"When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.” Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.” The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome. But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.”

Here it is made very clear to us that the Apostle Paul is innocent in the eyes of civil government (vv. 18, 27), it is also made clear to me that his sufferings that he is undergoing is for God's glory and the spreading of the Gospel (v. 19), reaching the ears of the secular 'powers that be'. God is simply amazing! God makes use of everything that happens to us for our good and His glory (Rom 8:28), He makes no waste of our hurts and frustrations, He is making us like His beloved Christ, "to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters" (Rom 8:29), and indeed we trust and tell our heavenly Father, "God, You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book (Psa 56:8)." Much more than that, He will use our experience as witness to His awesome love for all in Jesus Christ in us. On another note, movie trailer! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyOqQZUDdO4 It's already available for rent on google play movies. Let's pray, "Heavenly Father, I thank you that everything is in Your control. Even when circumstances around me seem to make no sense, help me to hold fast to the truth that You are working everything out for Your glory and my good. In Jesus’ name. Amen."