"Need a Good Word"
Devotional By Pastor Donald Blad
A Convenient Time
Acts 24:25
Now as he (Marcus Antonius Felix) reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you."
However his convenient time never came. One of the functions of God the Holy Spirit is that of convicting the world of sin.(John 16:8) All of us who are born again children of God have taken the same path as Governor Felix and have looked at our sin in a mirror just as God saw it. Our sin is ugly and it has an awful stench before a Holy God. Felix when he saw what he really looked like was afraid and sent the apostle Paul away.
Christianity, the salvation of our souls, can never come as the result of convenience. The Christian church in America has catered to all of our conveniences of our basic human nature. The best way to fill a church today is to have the most entertaining praise band, electronic television screens, ministry upon ministry and program upon program all under the heading of making everything as convenient as possible.
What Paul should have said to Felix is this? Felix come on Christianity is the latest and the greatest; with your position and influence you could step right into leadership. Our men’s group plays golf every Saturday. Our church has a thriving youth group and they know how to keep children busy. Our church even has a restaurant, a movie theater, and all the latest electronics to set the spiritual mood. I know you’ll love attending! I even heard that King Agrippa II is thinking about joining; just think of the new connections that you could make?
Christianity is not a convenience. Every salvation is a miracle from God. When the living Word of God is the main thing it will do its perfect work convicting the world of sin, of righteousness, judgment, and truth. When true salvation is perfected within our hearts our sorrow will lead to repentance and a new life in Christ. I am so glad that a faithful brother or two cared about my eternal soul enough to make my life an inconvenience.
