A little help here, please!
by Kathy Matuschka
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For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him (Acts 25:27).
Read Acts 25:13–27
Paul has appealed to Caesar, but it’s not time for him to leave for Rome yet. Today, Governor Festus invests in another strategic partnership as King Herod Agrippa II and his sister Bernice arrive to welcome Festus to his new role.
Once more, Festus demonstrates his collaborative, consultative skills. He asks Agrippa and local leaders if they will help him write a covering letter explaining why Paul has been imprisoned and is being sent to Caesar. One of the reasons Festus asks is because he is having difficulty making sense of the case.
Festus was undoubtedly aware that a well-written letter to Caesar could significantly impact his reputation and future career. But there was more to it than that. Festus also observes: ‘I found he had done nothing deserving of death’ (verse 25a).
Festus is concerned about being reasonable and just, but he doesn’t consider himself to have the corner on reason. So, he gathers a team to hear their perspectives and talk it through.
Do you have a support team – people you trust to help you process your thoughts, who share their perspectives and stretch your thinking? They may be people who see gifts and capacities in you that you didn’t see yourself.
Sometimes, when we support and encourage others, we may say a few words that we quickly forget but which stay with the other person for life. Can you recall people whose words and perspectives have stuck with you, who helped you achieve more than you could have imagined?
Dear loving God, thank you for the people who sharpen my thoughts and understanding. Thank you for those who have challenged and encouraged me to keep growing in my faith in you. Help me notice opportunities to help others grow into who you have made them to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Kathy Matuschka and her husband, Mark, live in Brisbane and worship at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale. Kathy continues to discern her ministry calling through her employment as a hospital chaplain and voluntary LCANZ activities. This year, she has contributed to the Way Forward Pastoral Care Working Group as a member.
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