Author: Dave Dishman (Page 63 of 411)

Several years ago while on a trip to Ireland I learned about the phrase beyond the pale. The expression was first used way back in the 13th century to describe people who lived outside the parts of Ireland controlled by the British. Sections of the perimeter were fenced, which became known as the Pale, deriving from the Latin word palus, or stake. Wild Irish people lived beyond the Pale (some of them my ancestors).

Today the phrase points to behavior outside the bounds of good conduct or judgment. Actions that are simply unacceptable. The phrase popped to mind while hearing Paul share about his life before Christ. He hated those who followed Jesus:

I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

Crushing disciples of Jesus consumed Paul. He threw people in prison, signed death warrants, and hunted relentlessly. Paul forced believers to renounce their faith through threats and intimidation. Men, women and children felt his wrath. Paul roamed beyond the pale, hate-filled and merciless.

Yet God, in his mercy, flipped the man. With the same astounding drive, Paul began advocating for and spreading faith in Jesus Christ. Paul never forgot his past, remorsefully writing I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God (1 Corinthians 15:9).

No one exists beyond hope. No man or woman who opposes the Lord is too far gone to be reached by the mercy and grace of God. We should pray: Lord, flip those who oppose you and create fresh, humble champions of faith. Future followers of Jesus even now wander beyond the pale, waiting for a call from our Lord.

Acts 26 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Jan Canty

Where do you toss your shoes at the end of the day? I either pull mine off at the front door, or drop my muddy boots outside. Neither spot is a place of honor in my house.

In the midst of desperate battles, David recorded these words as God described his treatment of the enemies of Israel:

Moab is my washbasin, on Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.

The Lord treats his enemies with disdain. He washes his hands in one and dumps his dirty shoes onto another. Over all he triumphs.

No enemy damages the Lord. No one rises to any level of opposition. All those who shake their fist in hatred do so with less power than the filthy corner of my garage.

It may sound like trite, religious feel-good language, but in our outraged and unbalanced world, it calms my angst to dwell upon the fact that the Lord rules the nations.

Psalm 60 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Dickens Sikazwe

I’m usually pretty decisive, but on big decisions I tend to delay before making up my mind. I like to keep my options open as long as possible.

Paul was imprisoned under the Roman governor of Judea, a man named Felix. Known for his cruelty and desire for money, Felix hoped to gain a bribe from Paul for his release. But first he, along with his wife Drusilla, wanted to hear from the fiery prophet:

Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about 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.”

Lacking both righteousness and self-control, Felix returned Paul to the dungeon. But Felix called Paul back again and again. Likely only after money, but I wonder if Paul’s words sank into Felix or Drusilla’s hearts?

Felix showed interest, but couldn’t make a decision. Why? Did turning toward Jesus mean turning away from his position of power and wealth? Were his stack of crimes against the people of Judea too high to see over? Or was it all simply about lining his pockets?

People turn down Jesus for lots of reasons. Felix was not alone in his love of financial gain and power over people. But I still wonder how often in the following years he thought back on those conversations and questioned his decision to push Jesus away?

We don’t know much more about Felix or Drusilla. No tradition hints at either one embracing the Christian faith. Maybe we’ll meet them in heaven and discover their circuitous path to Jesus. But it sounds more likely that even with clarity from Paul, the greatest teacher of their era, they refused to make a decision.

And indecision becomes a decision in itself.

Acts 24 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Danielle-Claude Bélanger

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Paul took advantage of the fissures in his audience. Earlier he angered the ruling council of Jerusalem with his teachings about Jesus and the resurrection. Now hauled before the court, the high priest ordered Paul struck across the face, and there was no promise things would get better from there.

Paul thought quickly and called out: “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”

When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.) There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously.

The conflict became so violent that the Roman commander feared Paul would be torn to pieces, so he ordered the troops to take him away. Thus Paul escaped the clutches of the high priest. Of course, Paul remained in the clutches of the Romans, and eventually Nero, but his cleverness got him out of this jam and several others.

Paul used his mind for teaching, preaching, writing, and confounding his opponents. We enjoy the fruit as we read his letters in the New Testament and learn from his life as recorded in the book of Acts. The Lord may not have made us clever, but he gifted each of us with a mind and it honors him when we put it to use.

Acts 23 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Neil Thomas