And some believed the things that were spoken, and some believed not.
Acts 28:24
Recently, I received a friendly and courteous letter from someone in Europe...
Acts 28:24
Recently, I received a friendly and courteous letter from someone in Europe...
He asked a question which I have been asked many times, "What if people don't believe you?"
It's an honest question. After all, I'm a man in prison serving a life sentence for a string of horrific homicides. So why should anyone believe me when I share about my faith and how God has forgiven all my sins, and that I am no longer the same person? The Son of Samhain is now the Son of Hope.
Years ago, when I was a new believer in Messiah Jesus (Yeshua, in Hebrew), it would trouble me whenever someone would call me a fake and accuse me of saying this to hopefully receive an early release from prison.
But as the years passed and as I grew and matured in my faith, I realized that I didn't have to try to defend myself. The answer came one day when I was reading about the Lord Jesus, and how there were many people who did not believe Him either.
Christ had His share of adversaries and detractors. He was called a "deceiver" by Israel's chief priests and the religious rulers of his day (Matthew 27:63). They even called Him "Beelzebub" thus accusing Jesus of being the "prince of devils” (Matthew 12:24).
Imagine that. The Lord Jesus was regarded by some to be the chief of demons. He was reviled and mocked, beaten and spat upon, even though all he did was forgive people and heal them.
Interestingly, it was the same for the apostle Paul. A devout Jewish rabbinical scholar educated under a much-revered rabbi by the name of Gamaliel, Paul, once known as Saul of Tarsus, himself became a follower of Messiah Jesus. Persecuted and mistreated because of this, he came to the same conclusion I later did. How that some would believe his words about Jesus, while others would not.
In the end, I shouldn't be discouraged when some choose not to believe me. If they didn't believe Jesus and Paul, what makes me think they would believe me? Understanding this has set my mind at ease.
D. B.
It's an honest question. After all, I'm a man in prison serving a life sentence for a string of horrific homicides. So why should anyone believe me when I share about my faith and how God has forgiven all my sins, and that I am no longer the same person? The Son of Samhain is now the Son of Hope.
Years ago, when I was a new believer in Messiah Jesus (Yeshua, in Hebrew), it would trouble me whenever someone would call me a fake and accuse me of saying this to hopefully receive an early release from prison.
But as the years passed and as I grew and matured in my faith, I realized that I didn't have to try to defend myself. The answer came one day when I was reading about the Lord Jesus, and how there were many people who did not believe Him either.
Christ had His share of adversaries and detractors. He was called a "deceiver" by Israel's chief priests and the religious rulers of his day (Matthew 27:63). They even called Him "Beelzebub" thus accusing Jesus of being the "prince of devils” (Matthew 12:24).
Imagine that. The Lord Jesus was regarded by some to be the chief of demons. He was reviled and mocked, beaten and spat upon, even though all he did was forgive people and heal them.
Interestingly, it was the same for the apostle Paul. A devout Jewish rabbinical scholar educated under a much-revered rabbi by the name of Gamaliel, Paul, once known as Saul of Tarsus, himself became a follower of Messiah Jesus. Persecuted and mistreated because of this, he came to the same conclusion I later did. How that some would believe his words about Jesus, while others would not.
In the end, I shouldn't be discouraged when some choose not to believe me. If they didn't believe Jesus and Paul, what makes me think they would believe me? Understanding this has set my mind at ease.
D. B.
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