5/12/26

Acts 28:6 NASB95 But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

"That's not fair." We have heard it said, and we have probably said it ourselves. That is not fair. Paul had been bitten by a snake on an Island in the Mediterranean Sea. The locals said he must be a criminal and justice has prevailed. He will die. Then when he didn't they figured him to be a deity. They were expecting fairness.

Do you ever feel as if you have been treated unfairly? Have you been passed up for a promotion you thought you deserved? Have you taken all precautions and still gotten sick?

Have you worked hard only to not be recognized and yet a lazy person gets recognition? It just isn't fair.

People think that life is inherently fair, but it is not. Peter denied Christ three times and yet was allowed to preach the sermon at Pentecost, that isn't fair. David lived righteously, and yet he was chased into hiding to keep from being killed. That isn't fair. Yet he was allowed to remain King and be in the lineage of Jesus after adultery and murder. That is not fair. Paul sought to kill the Church and yet He was chosen to live for and share Christ. That isn't fair. Jesus lived life without sin and yet suffered sins death on a cross. That isn't fair.

When we come right down to it, I think we should be thankful that life isn't fair. If it were, we would all be bound for an eternal hell. Romans 3:23 NASB95 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. And Romans 6:23 NASB95 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

However, thanks to the forgiveness of God and the sacrifice of Christ, we do not have to receive what we deserve.

Satan loves to get people upset and tell them they have been treated unfairly. He tells them to find another person who will treat you fairly. He says find another job that will treat you fairly. He will say find another friend, church, place to live, doctor, pastor, spouse, or even God, so you will be treated fairly. When he does this maybe we need to stay and thank the Lord that we are not always treated fairly. Because if we get what we deserve, we sure wouldn't be happy.

They couldn't figure out why Paul didn't die. He was no longer a criminal and he wasn't God. They just needed to figure out that instead of looking at people for fairness, they needed to look at God for grace!

Is this where we fail? I think so. We need to understand receive, and give grace. If we do that I don't think we will be concerned with fairness.

Love Bro. Scott