Center Stage

Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.

Acts 25:23

In the history of the church, Paul is one of the central figures. But in his time he wasn’t well known. Most historians think he was probably physically unimpressive. There was no social media, so he had little name recognition. Certainly there was no earthly reason he should have been standing before King Agrippa and his sister Bernice.

Except that the plans of his enemy backfired, and Rabbi Paul, whose case was described dismissively by Governor Festus, had the floor and the undivided attention of King Agrippa. “It was something about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is alive” (Acts 25:19), Festus had explained. Paul also had the attention of the king’s sister, military officers, and prominent men of the city. God was setting the stage and directing every move. Had Paul’s accusers not been so insistent and intent on his execution, Paul would never have had the ear of this company of people.

Do you see the promise on display in this scene? God is always in charge. Always. When evil seems to be winning the day, it never is. When you feel that you have been defeated, you never are. God is managing and arranging everything.

You have his promise that he is moving every circumstance toward his desired outcome. Be patient. Let them unfold. As you confront a situation that has a disappointing outcome, watch to see how that outcome sets the stage for the next situation, which opens the door to the next opportunity, which lays the groundwork for the next circumstance, and on and on. Finally, one day, you can look back and say, “I couldn’t be where I am if I’d never been where I was.”

You will see that God is using every seemingly negative event to bring together all the pieces for a stunning display of his power.

My life is yours, Lord. Do as you will, when you will, how you will.

So, your path with its unexplained sorrow or turmoil, and mine with its sharp flints and briers—and both our paths, with their unexplained perplexity, their sheer mystery—they are His paths, on which he will show himself loving and faithful. Nothing else; nothing less.

Amy Carmichael(1867–1951), Irish missionary to India