Basket Beginnings (Part II)
“But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. (NIV) Acts 9:25
Bible reading: Acts 9
Did you miss Basket Beginnings (Part I)?
The New Testament also contains “basket events”, one of which requires our attention today. Unlike Moses who was put in a basket as a baby, the apostle Paul was a fully grown man who was put in a basket to save him from wicked men.
In Acts 9, we learnt that Paul was converted to Christianity through an extraordinary experience on the road to Damascus. Right after his conversion, Paul quickly plunged into the ministry of his calling, in making Christ known: proclaiming and giving strong defense that Jesus is indeed the Son God. His new life and perspective about eternity were contrary to his former life and unacceptable to the Jews. Therefore, a plot was made to take his life at the city gate, but with the help of the believers, Paul was able to escape in a basket lowered through an opening in the city wall.
This was the beginning of many challenges ahead of him. The most chilling summary of his untold experiences is carefully listed in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28. Through all these challenges, Paul remained firm in the Lord as his life was guided by the Lord.
Similarly, we have to stand firm by the Lord’s side. We can still get things right today. We can still use the opportunities we get as well as the challenges we face to still make Christ known. Let’s readily avail ourselves to the Lord through total surrendering, being servant-oriented, not feeling ashamed of “basket” rides, sometimes taking the road less travelled, and having the end in mind- all for the Lord’s sake. Like Paul, we can conclude someday, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”(2 Timothy 4:7)
Don’t be intimidated by any basket beginnings, since there are greater things ahead. Yet still, let us not despise basket experiences; they may well be an avenue of our preservation by His divine hand. Have a blessed day!