"Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe." (Acts 28:24, NIV)
Notice, not "could not believe," but, "would not believe." The phrase can also be translated, "refuse belief."
Bertrand Russel once said, "Not to be absolutely certain, I think, is one of the essential things in rationality." He once took note of what he called discrepancies in the narratives of the Four Gospels and said, and I paraphrase, "If I were an editor of a newspaper and had four reporters with such conflicting observances, I would fire them." Russel read the same Gospels I read. The difference? He, "refuse[d] belief"; I choose belief. What about you today?
Westerners tend to equate "belief" with intellectual comprehension. But what I see in our text is choosing to believe. I too see things in the Bible which do not "make sense" to me. But since when does what "makes sense" to me rule? Jesus and His Words Rule! Say whatever You like, Lord Jesus, and I accept and surrender to it/You.
The short of it is that people do not believe because they don't want to believe, not because "it doesn't make sense," or they cannot "understand." What was going on in the minds and hearts of those who were hearing Paul that day in Rome? What set of ears were they using, "rationality"-ears, or heart-ears. Which ruled? There were those there that day, "who hunger[ed] and thirst[ed] after righteousness," and apparently there were those who did not have such, "hunger and thirst"; hence, "Some were convinced.., but others would not believe." One early National Socialist, who later broke with Hitler, said that Hitler's appeal was that "he spoke from our heart." There was "something" in the hearts of those who embraced Hitler that was also in Hitler's heart. Beware of what thoughts and philosophies attract.
You and I make choices every day. Life is not as "routine" or "automatic" as some may think. Some choices are obvious, others present themselves very subtly. That "chooser" in us will determine the difference between defeat and victory in life. Jesus told the Jews, "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life, that...you...may live." We can say today that choosing, "Some were convinced by what he said," is to, "choose life." On the other hand to, "refuse belief," is to choose, "death." Faced with such alternatives, the smart move is to be, "convinced by what he said."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I, "choose life." Amen.
Notice, not "could not believe," but, "would not believe." The phrase can also be translated, "refuse belief."
Bertrand Russel once said, "Not to be absolutely certain, I think, is one of the essential things in rationality." He once took note of what he called discrepancies in the narratives of the Four Gospels and said, and I paraphrase, "If I were an editor of a newspaper and had four reporters with such conflicting observances, I would fire them." Russel read the same Gospels I read. The difference? He, "refuse[d] belief"; I choose belief. What about you today?
Westerners tend to equate "belief" with intellectual comprehension. But what I see in our text is choosing to believe. I too see things in the Bible which do not "make sense" to me. But since when does what "makes sense" to me rule? Jesus and His Words Rule! Say whatever You like, Lord Jesus, and I accept and surrender to it/You.
The short of it is that people do not believe because they don't want to believe, not because "it doesn't make sense," or they cannot "understand." What was going on in the minds and hearts of those who were hearing Paul that day in Rome? What set of ears were they using, "rationality"-ears, or heart-ears. Which ruled? There were those there that day, "who hunger[ed] and thirst[ed] after righteousness," and apparently there were those who did not have such, "hunger and thirst"; hence, "Some were convinced.., but others would not believe." One early National Socialist, who later broke with Hitler, said that Hitler's appeal was that "he spoke from our heart." There was "something" in the hearts of those who embraced Hitler that was also in Hitler's heart. Beware of what thoughts and philosophies attract.
You and I make choices every day. Life is not as "routine" or "automatic" as some may think. Some choices are obvious, others present themselves very subtly. That "chooser" in us will determine the difference between defeat and victory in life. Jesus told the Jews, "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life, that...you...may live." We can say today that choosing, "Some were convinced by what he said," is to, "choose life." On the other hand to, "refuse belief," is to choose, "death." Faced with such alternatives, the smart move is to be, "convinced by what he said."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I, "choose life." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
