Today you should read: Acts 25:1-27
The Life of a Disciple
Chapter 25 is a page in the journal of a disciple – a man who was committed to following Jesus no matter what it cost him. He has been faithfully sharing the Gospel message of Jesus – how Jesus came and lived and died for our sins; how a person can have a personal encounter with Him by receiving Him into their lives.
The Jewish leaders didn’t like this. They accused Paul of crimes against the Temple and asked the Roman authorities to execute him (just like they did Jesus). Paul was sent to Caesarea (Maritima) – a Roman city built to mirror Rome on the Mediterranean Sea.
L: Current Picture of Caesarea Maritima; R: Cistern where Paul was kept as a prisoner
There Paul was formally accused of the crimes against him and stood before Festus to be tried. Paul, being wrongfully accused, demanded a hearing before the highest Roman authority – Caesar. This, of course, would be what takes Paul to Rome where he would share the message of Jesus and then be executed.
This brings me to a very important question today: when should you stand your ground? Often, the right thing to do is to humbly submit to others around you – to turn the other cheek – but when is it right to fight? To stand up for your cause?
1. When lead by God’s Spirit to do so
2. When the reputation of God is at stake
3. When doing so will further the Gospel
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16
4. When you’re sure it’s not about you or your fame
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
What are your thoughts about this? Comment about a time you stood your ground for the right reasons.
By: Tim Parsons — Lead Pastor
JumpstartCPC.com 
Good word today Tim. A number of years ago I was out of town on a business trip and an interesting conversation came up with a work colleague. He was complaining about religious extremists and fundamentalists around the world who insist that “their way” is the only way. When I pressed him to clarify his comments he basically said that all good people go to heaven regardless of the religious path they choose. I used my YouVersion Bible app to guide him to John 14:6 and we discussed Jesus being The Way, The Truth, & The Life and that salvation is found in no other name. I then asked him if he believed in absolute truth. When he said no I asked him if 2 plus 2 could ever add up to 5? I told him there are absolute truths all around us in life. We then discussed II Timothy 3:16 and the absolute truth and authority of God’s Word. I’d like to tell you he accepted Christ that evening but he did not. Hopefully that conversation has been kept alive by the Holy Spirit convicting his heart. I don’t see him much anymore because he left our company and took another job. Our work is to plant seeds. Only God can cultivate, water, and harvest the crops.