Festus, the new Roman governor in Caesarea, began to deal with Paul's situation. The Jews had charges against Paul but were not worthy of death in Roman law because the charges against him pertained to Jewish Law and the Lord Jesus. In addition, all the charges against Paul could not be proven. Festus went to Jerusalem to investigate Paul's charges, but the Jews wanted Paul to return to Jerusalem so that they could ambush and kill him. However, Festus denied their request and told them to go to Caesarea to present their charges against Paul. Upon returning to Caesarea, Paul told Festus that he wanted to appeal to Caesar (Emperor) as a Roman citizen because he was innocent and not worthy of imprisonment and death. Festus granted Paul's request, but Festus needed to have a legal charge against Paul, and he couldn't find one, so he consulted the king or ruler of the Jews, Agrippa, for advice. God had given Paul an opportunity to speak before Festus and Agrippa. (Acts 25:1-27).
Despite Paul's false accusation and imprisonment, his faith in the Lord never faded, but it became his confidence. His faith in the Lord gave him peace in the midst of his trials. He never questioned God's goodness. And the reason was that he was resting in the promises of God. No matter what happened to him, he believed in his heart that God had his life. Nothing could separate him from the love of Christ. In Romans 8:38-39, Paul said, "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Let us be encouraged today that no matter what we are going through, God is with us because we are His children through our faith in the Lord Jesus. No matter what we face today, our confidence is knowing and believing that God has our lives in His loving arms. We can go through our difficult circumstances because God is with us and not against us. He loves us and takes care of us.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully and meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speaks to you). Where is my confidence in my difficult circumstances? Can I be separated from the love of Christ? Do I trust in the promises of God in facing my difficulties?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you that there is nothing that can separate me from your love. Thank you that my life is in your hands and that you will take care of me until the end. There is nothing that I go through that you are not with me. Please help me trust in your promises that I may have peace, confidence, strength, and wisdom to face my difficulties. In your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.