HOW WELL IT WENT
Today's reading: Acts 23-24

The first ten verses of Acts 23 take us to the moment in time when Paul stood before the Pharisees and the Saducees. It was his opportunity to state his case for Christ.

It didn't go well.

The high council wanted him slapped for blasphemy. His words divided the audience. There was violence. There was shouting.

So, as we come to verse 11, I believe I can see Paul sitting in his cell pondering the day's events.

Being I've been there before, I think he really felt as if he had bombed. Failed. Wasted the opportunity God had provided for him. And yet we see in verse 11--

"That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have told the people about me in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome." Acts 23:11 NLT

I can imagine the list of excuses Paul may have provided God for needing to choose another guy. I can just hear Paul shaking his head and asking God where He was during the fiasco--didn't He see? I know Paul's self-esteem was at an all-time low.

And yet God chose Paul to keep at it.

To continue on.

To be steadfast.

To open his mouth and share--and God would do the rest.

I believe He's telling me the same thing today. No matter how many conversations I've walked away from thinking I've really blown it.

To God, it's more about the obedience than the performance.