The anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and so you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, abide in Him. 1 John 2:27 NRSV.

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10 NKJV.

In Your unfailing love You will lead the people You have redeemed. In Your strength You will guide them to Your holy dwelling. Exodus 15:13.

The second verse cited above has been my favorite and I confess that the second part of it has seemed disjointed. But as I read our chapter, Acts 24, and as I worry for our world, I realized that the second part is the promise because of the first. Be still and know…that I AM God – I will be exalted among the nations…I will be exalted in the earth! Paul knew and understood that and so can we. After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders, with an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges to the governor against Paul. After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor, “Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation, we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing. For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. And he even tried to desecrate the temple; and then we arrested him…By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him.” The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so. When the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot. Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings; in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia – who ought to have been present before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me. Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council, other than for this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’” v. 1-6, 8-21. Felix adjourned the trial until the commander could come to bear testimony of what happened when Paul was arrested. Paul was held prisoner still but with the ability to move around with some freedom and to be ministered to by his friends, v. 22-23. But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.” At the same time too, he was hoping that money would be given him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him. But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned. v. 24-27. It’s interesting that as Paul spoke about righteousness and self-control and the judgment to come, that Felix became frightened. Our freedom in Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, is not freedom to harm others by our selfish actions. Is that not the root of all the discord and the problems plaguing humanity today? As we draw near to God it’s because of the ground of our souls He has prepared to receive seeds not visible to us but known to Him that can grow like a tender small shoot reaching toward the light of His love and His truth and His wisdom. Closeness with God brings understanding and hope and trust in Him. As we walk with Him we can sense His love and in His love we grow strong. We stumble as we see the darkness of this world and the fears driving actions that lead to more hurt and more discord. So we turn back to Him again and again and again and every time we stumble in the dark. And He is here. Always. With Him is the spacious place of His love where we can abide and grow and flourish. He drives out our fears by His perfect Love and we can rest in Him knowing His Love is real and needed. That’s how we can come to say and know and trust and live into – not my will but Yours! And not just for us, for all of us.