I Must Insist on High Integrity Still

 

Acts 22-24 

 

Paul had been mocked, ridiculed, judged, beaten, and now found himself in prison.

All for preaching the Gospel.

 

Paul had had a very powerful conversion, and was now living his life FAR from the darkness he once found himself in as a persecutor of Christians.

 

But maybe not so far away that he didn’t “remember” what it felt like on the “other side.”

 

Take a look at Acts 22:1. It says that Paul addressed the high council, the VERY ones who were scorning him and beating him and imprisoning him, this way, “Brothers and esteemed Fathers.”

 

He says it again in chapter 23, verse 1, “Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began, ‘Brothers…’”

 

And it’s important - SO IMPORTANT - to note that this was just following endured torture. 22:24, “The commander brought Paul inside and ordered him lashed with whips to make him confess his crime.”

 

And yet he addresses the council as “brothers.”

 

How?

Why?

 

Because Paul insisted on living with high integrity.

Paul insisted on maintaining dignity.

Paul insisted on showing honor.

 

Because Paul insisted to live like Jesus.

 

Maybe it is because Paul remembered hearing about the night of Jesus’ arrest, and the quiet display of surrender our Jesus portrayed.

 Maybe he remembered the story told about the anxiousness of Peter who “cut off a man’s ear” (John 18:10) for the sake of His Savior, and how Jesus in radical moment of grace, rebuked His student while repairing the enemy’s severed body.

 

Paul would go on to tell us ALL the ways we are to honor kings and leaders. (Rom 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:13, 1 Tim 2:1-4, Titus 3:1, Heb 13:17)

 

And he wouldn’t just tell us that by edict, he would tell us that by experience.

 

He knew suffering for the cross.

He knew mistreatment at it’s finest.

He knew false accusation well.

 

And he knew it to come from those he once called friends (he used to sit on that same high council once upon a time.)

 

But he honored them even now as he was the recipient of harsh judgement.

 

Undeserving treatment.

 

Ahh.. but undeserving grace!

 

Paul understood, as we should, that honor was still due not because they deserved it, but because God deserved the highest form of integrity, and he feared the Lord enough to insist on a way of living that did unto the least of them, as if doing to the Lord Himself.

 

We owe honor - not because they deserve it, but because He deserves it. He deserves our very best in the middle of whatever circumstances tell us.