Acts 26:29

i was reading acts 26 this morning between fca and going to lift with eric. when i got toward the end of the chapter, it occurred to me, verse 29 was the one verse i really remembered well after my fifth grade year of quizzing:

"Paul replied, 'Short time or long - I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.'" Acts 26:29

i was telling e about it, and he remembered what it was right when i got to the end. we used to speak it very dramatically while standing on a chair in the fellowship hall... EXCEPT FOR THESE CHAINS!!!! we figured out that it has been 26 years since we memorized that verse. what a blessing Bible quizzing has been to my life ever since then. Praise God for His Word and the way He has used it in my life and in the lives of so many around me.

the context of the verse also encourages me and leads me to pray for opportunities... paul is receiving a hearing before festus, agrippa and bernice while awaiting his extradition to rome. he shares his testimony and the truth of the gospel (forgiveness of sins through Christ's suffering and resurrection), and then calls on agrippa to believe since he is familiar with the truth of the old testament. agrippa asks paul the question, "in a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?"

paul's boldness for the gospel took place in the midst of his imprisonment! may the Lord give me open doors and boldness to share no matter what my circumstances! (Colossians 3:3-4; Ephesians 6:19)