No Groveling

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

NO GROVELING

Acts 24:1-9

24:1 Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: "We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. 3 Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. 4 But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly. 5 "We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect 6 and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him." 9 The Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.

NIV

If Ananias could make more of a fool of himself buttering up Governor Felix, we think he would have. Oh, Most excellent Felix we have such profound gratitude for the way you brought such reforms to our nation. Hold on a minute, this is a Roman procurator, a governor of the occupying forces who control the indigenous people who God gave this land to. They are the ones who are supposed to rule under the provision and direction of God. Yet they not only yield to this foreign power, they bow before him, perhaps not physically, but with their words. There is no question that because Rome occupies Israel, their laws are carried out with the use of force if needed. The Jews must obey the laws of Rome if they are to enjoy a peaceful existence. The problem with this obedience to Rome is that Caesar who sits in Rome considers himself to be a god. How is it then if the Most Holy God commanded, they should have no other gods before Him, they give such accolades to Caesar’s local representative. Of course, this bowing to Felix is totally self-serving. They are saying anything to promote their own agenda. It makes us think about our lives and how we are to live in this world. Although this world was created for the purpose to sustain our lives, that is God created us to occupy and subdue this land and rule over all the creatures in it. However, because of sin that was broken and we were cast out of the garden and required to work by the toil of our hands and the sweat of our brow for our substance. Over the years, thousands of them, it seems that Satan has become the occupying force of this world. He wants people to worship him, with their words and their behaviors. We were once subject to this cruel form of governance of the devil, but once we were reborn into the kingdom of God, we were released from any occupying forces. However, we are still in a spiritual battle against all the forces of evil, and God has armed us well with His armor. Nevertheless, we are not ruled by this occupier, this ruler of the dark. We do not have to give him any praise, as the high priest did to Felix. Although, those who live strictly for the purpose of self-gratification, self-fulfillment, and self-aggrandizement may well be given the honor to the devil perhaps unaware of their bowing to him. We, however, are no longer citizens here, for we have forfeited our passports and been given new citizenship in the kingdom of heaven with a new passport and new travel plans. Let us always be praising our God and no one else, not anyone is worthy of praise except the Most High God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. It is right to give respect to those who God has placed in authority, but not to grovel before them.