While Paul was defending himself [in Caesarea before the governor and the King and Queen,] Festus burst out, “You are raving, Paul! All your learning has driven you mad!”
But Paul replied, “I am not mad, your excellency. I speak nothing but sober truth. The king knows of these matters, and I can speak freely before him. I cannot believe that any of these matters has escaped his notice, for it has been no hole-and-corner business. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? But I know that you believe them.” “Much more of this, Paul,” returned Agrippa, “and you will be making me a Christian!” “Ah,” returned Paul, “whether it means ‘much more’ or ‘only a little’, I would to God that both you and all who can hear me this day might stand where I stand — but without these chains." (Acts 26:24-29) Do you catch the power of the radical, underlying presupposition that's contained in Paul's words there, "except for these chains"? He is literally saying to a king, a man raised in the household of the Caesar, "If you take off these chains, I'd rather be where I am than where you are." That's the power of appropriating - possessing what's really ours - in the Kingdom, in the life, death, resurrection, ascension and indwelling of Jesus. It reminds me of Peter, back in Acts chapter 3: "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have" - what is his, what he possesses, what he's appropriated - "I give you: In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, walk!" For this particular day: What do you possess of Jesus? What is firmly yours, whether you feel in-chains or out of chains?
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