Accept Your Life Story For His Glory - Acts 21-22

Acts 22:27-29 (ESV)

So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.

In the middle of Paul being persecuted by the Jews in Jerusalem, he was also about to be flogged with whips by the Roman soldiers.   In Rome, to find out if someone was telling the truth or to discover from them some information, flogging was the approach. It would be something like modern day water boarding.    Paul, however, claims his Roman citizenship and that was a game changer for these events.   Apparently, Paul was a Roman citizen.  He was born in Tarsus.  Anyone born in that city would be a Roman citizen.  But his father would have had to be a Roman citizen, as well.  This is was a huge advantage in the Roman controlled world.    Paul would use that right to avoid this flogging, but to also, later, ask for a hearing with Caesar, the emperor.   God had already weaved into Paul’s life these privileges, to further the Gospel message.  God had designed his birth, his education, his salvation, and all of his circumstances.  We often fret over what has happened to us.  Yet, God weaves these things into our lives and uses them to put us in the exact position God needed us to be to accomplish HIS PLANS.  And that is the key:  We are here for HIS plans, not ours.   Paul embraced his past in order to impact his present and future use for God.  That is the key to living a life for Him and His glory.   Don’t fret your past. Don’t forget your past.  Don’t regret your past.  Embrace the events God has given you in your past to equip you for your present use by Him for His glory.   Joseph was put into a pit, accused of being a rapist, sent to prison and forgotten.  Yet, he was used by God and put as second in command of all Egypt.  Daniel was carried away captive and put into a lions den and yet spoke into the ears of multiple kings.   Nehemiah was taken captive and became a cupbearer for the king.  He had to taste the wine before the king drank it to make sure the king was not drinking poison.   Yet, he became the construction manager for the rebuilding of Jerusalem.   The stories in the Bible go on and on like this.   God uses our circumstances for His glory.   Embrace what God has allowed in your life in order to bring Him glory with your life.