A Godly Wish

 One of the things that I was taught growing up was to make a wish before blowing out the candles on my birthday cake. I don't know where that practice originated, but it was fun, even if I did not get what I wished for. However, many of us have wishes that are much more serious than birthday wishes. Those wishes are things that we would love to see happen in our lives or the lives of those around us.

Paul expressed a very serious wish as he was addressing King Agrippa and the other officials about his testimony and the charges the Jews had brought against him. (Acts 26:29) Paul told them that He would wish to God that whether in a short time or a long time that not only the king but all who heard him that day would become such as he was, except without his prisoner chains. I pray we could all make a similar wish.

In essence Paul's wish was that everyone with whom he was able to speak would become a Christian. It was his desire for all of the people who heard him would be convinced that Jesus is Lord and put their trust in Him themselves. I believe that should be the wish and the intent of every believer based on what Jesus said in the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:19-20) Is that your wish today?

Also, I like how Paul said that he wished they would become such as he was. That shows the joy and peace of Paul's heart, even in his trials. It shows that God had so blessed him that he wanted everyone to experience being a new creature in Christ with all of its blessings. Is that the kind of life that you have today? Would you want everyone to have your life? I believe that should be our goal, so we can show people what knowing Jesus is like.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 28:and Romans 1-3.