Living and Gaining

2 Timothy 1:10, Philippians 1:21

Popcorn in hand, my daughter, Emily, and I opened the movie theater door with a Puss In Boots ad. In the dim light, and flickering trailers, we distributed napkins, and the buttered popcorn buckets to the guys, John and Ethan. We kicked out the recliners with a push of a button, and settled in to watch the movie.

If you’ve seen, Puss in Boots, you know the plot is about death. The main character becomes scared to death of death. Regarding this, if you haven’t seen the movie, a little dog, Perrito, in a sweet moment, helps Puss in Boots fight his fear.

After the movie, we talked about how Puss in Boots was seeing death as something terrible. As Christians, we know that Jesus conquered death. Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:10, “¹⁰ but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” In addition, Paul stated in Philippians 1:21, “²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Uncle Paul

Acts 22:3, 23:12-35, Acts 24

Many people have heard of Paul and how he suffered while spreading the Gospel.  His Christian mission is spelled out in the letters he wrote in the Bible.  He became a famous traveling missionary because of Jesus.

What do we know about Paul’s personal life?  In Acts 22:3, he said he was “born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city.”  He was raised in Jerusalem and had a sister (Acts 23:16).  His sister had a son, giving Paul a nephew.

I believe the Lord sent Paul’s nephew to help him.  Paul’s nephew was in the right place at the right time to hear the bad plot that over 40 enemies made an oath to not drink or eat “until they had killed Paul.”  Paul’s nephew was able to tell him what he heard, which led to Paul’s rescue.  The nephew’s actions showed he loved Uncle Paul.

I wonder what happened to the 40+ men that didn’t love Paul, the men that made the oath not to drink or eat until they murdered Paul.  I lost track of the time that passed after they made that oath, but it would have been at least two years and eight days.  My husband and I think they gave up.