Press the arrow to listen to Brian Littrell sing “I Surrender All” as you read today’s devotion about holding life loosely.

Scripture
But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know. If, then, I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.” Acts 25:10-11

Observation
Paul was a high stakes roller. He scooped up the dice from the table and rolled them all again, not knowing exactly what might spin out. The option before him was to go back to Jerusalem to stand trial, either to be assassinated along the way or to be trounced in a kangaroo court. So Paul rolled the dice again.

Paul’s decision to appeal to Caesar was not hurried. He had been seasoning in gaol for two long years. He had time to think things through. There had been plenty of time to contemplate the “if/then” scenarios. He knew the political pressure on Festus to appease the Jews. He knew that trial in Jerusalem was a likely outcome. So in his prison cell he certainly must have weighed the options and made the decision to risk it all.

How did Paul make such a tough decision? Easy, for once he considered his life disposable, everything became clear. Had Paul been trying to save his skin, the options would have been worrisome. Paul, however, was composed because he had dropped his need for survival. With surrender Paul could see the promise of God. Jesus had assured him that he would testify in Rome. Paul knew that as a privileged Roman citizen he was entitled to appeal to meet with Caesar himself. After two years of waiting, the option was simple.

Application
Too often my life decisions are fretful because I’m devoted to my own survival. I’ve not been where Paul was with the potential of death. But I have lived on the brink of political or personal suicide. There are tough calls in life that run the risk of the loss of credibility. In some ways death is easier to face than disgrace, for death is short-term pain while disgrace is a constant companion. I want the clarity that Paul had as he stood before a powerful man in a crowded room. That will come only as I consider my own ego expendable.

Prayer
Father, there are times that this surrender is needed. Show me when those times come and show me how to accomplish them. Amen.