| February 18, 2010

^{Acts 24:24-26}

Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you." At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

I read this yesterday and thought about the contrast between the two men.  Paul is our tremendous model of living for Christ.  Felix is a great example of a “worldly” man. 

2 Corinthians 4:5 captures Paul’s attitude well:  “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.”  Read that whole chapter and you will picture Paul in prison, waiting for his chance to share the Good News with whoever he can.

Felix reminds me of the path Jesus talks about in the Parable of the Sower (Mt 13).  He hears the Word being preached by one of the, if not the most, influential Christians ever and it’s bouncing right off.  Not only that, he’s hoping all the while to make some money.  “When I find it convenient,” sums up Felix’s belief system.  Life is all about himself.

Paul dedicated his life to serving Christ.  Felix dedicated his life to serving himself.  As for us, let’s take advice from Joshua 24:15 “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”