FOR REFLECTION.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13086, 21 October 1935, Page 2

FOR REFLECTION.

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN.

(Published under the auspices of the Pahiatua Ministers’ Association). FESTUS. “And as he thus spoke for himself, Festus said with a loud voice: “Paul, thou are beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.” Acts 26: 24.

A single word will sometimes immortalise a man. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” was all that Cain said. “What will you give me?” was the inquiry of Judas We remember them by their words. A few words will sometimes quite unintentionally sum up a iiian’s life. A man will thus discover to us what is deepest in his heart. By thy words thou shalt be justified, said Christ, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. And as Festus shouted these words, “Paul thou art beside thyself ; much learning doth make thee mad,” he was revealing himself. Wc see what manner of mail he was.

Jesuis had taken care te prepare His disciples for insult. The disciple is noo above his Master, not the servant above his Lord. It is enough that the disciple be as his Master and the servant as his Lord. So Paul was not staggered by this outbreak on the part of the Roman governor for he recalled that this was the very thing they had said about his Master. And that not by heathens such as Pilato and Festus but by His friends. “And when His friends heard of it they went out to lay hold on Him for they said, He is beside Himself.” On another occasion the Jews said, “He hath a devil and is mad.”

First, then, as to our Master’s own madness. It is plain and beyond dispute, that either He was mad <>r the3 T were who insulted Him. For He loved nothing that they loved. He feared nothing that they feared. Birth, wealth, station and such-like things— so dear to the heart of man ; of all that He emptied Himself and made Himself of no reputation. And to complete the contrast, the things that other men despise and pity and spurn He pronounces to be blessed. Meekness under insults and injuries, patience amid persecutions, humbleness of mind, readiness to serve rather than to sit in honour and eat—these are the only things that have praise and reward of Paul's Master. <lt was no wonder that her neighbours and kinsfolk condoled with His mother who had borne such a son. Yes, He must be beside Himsalf.

Now, Paul came as near to his Master s madness as anv man is likely to come. Paul had 'been telling his royal auditors what he never wearied telling—his undeserved, unexpected and unparalleled conversion. His manner of life before his conversion also, his persecution of the church; 1 was exceeding mad, he said, against the saints. If anybody to-day had been through halt of Paul’s experiences, we would perhaps charge him with madness also. To count all things, the most valuable things in life as nothing; to count your very virtues and grac es as less than nothing ; to be continually crucified with Christ; to do all this of one’s own tree will and choice : what else would folks make of you ? Is this not insanity of the most obvious character? Yes, to Festus Paul was mad. Many a good man since Paul’s day has been judged just as he was. The London press, led by Punch, week after week, mocked, trampled on and tried to silence young Spurgeon, very much as Festus tried to silence Paul. But Punch lived to lay a. tribute on Spurgeon’s grave at last.

“If,” says Matthew Mead, “the preaching of Christ is to the world foolishness then it is no wonder that the disciples of Christ are to the world fools. For according to the Gospel, a man must die in order to live; lie must be empty who would be full ; he must be lost who would be found ; he must have nothing who would have all things; lie must be blind who would see; he must be condemned who would be redeemed. He is no true Christian who is not the world’s fool.” And yet. no! T am not mad. most noble Festus • but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.