by Jimmy Clark<\/p>\n
“And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee<\/em>” (Acts 24:25).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Paul spoke to Felix about “the faith in Christ<\/em>” (Acts 24:24). That faith struck at the heart of Felix’s ungodly life. He had taken Drusilla as his wife, who was formerly the wife of Gaius Julius Azizus [Josephus, “Jewish Antiquities”, xx, 7.1]. Felix was emotionally moved by the truths taught, but was not committed to applying them. He leaned upon the excuse of looking for a “convenient season<\/em>” to hear more. There is no indication that Felix ever did anything more than what is recorded in Acts 24.<\/p>\n
Some people today often look for convenience when following Jesus. If there is some great price to be paid, excuses of all kinds are made. Look at the prices that Jesus has paid for mankind and ask the question, “Why should it be convenient for us?<\/p>\n
Jesus Left Heaven to Come to Earth for Us<\/h2>\n
The Holy Spirit makes it clear that Jesus willingly gave up the glories of heaven to come to earth and live as a servant for man’s benefit. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men<\/em>” (Philippians 2:5-7). It is written again, “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God<\/em>” (Hebrews 10:5-7). Jesus left where the saint is trying to go. Would anyone think it was convenient for Jesus to do such? Why then should it be convenient for us?<\/p>\n
Jesus Lived His Life as a Pattern for Us<\/h2>\n
The life Jesus lived was not an easy, convenient one. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin<\/em>” (Hebrews 4:15). Again, it is written of Jesus, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds<\/em>” (Hebrews 12:2-3). Jesus had a much tougher life than anyone else ever had. Nevertheless, he set the standard for all men (cf. I Peter 2:21). Life was not convenient for Jesus. Why should it be convenient for us?<\/p>\n
Jesus Laid Down His Life for Us<\/h2>\n
Giving up one’s life for sinners to be saved is the ultimate inconvenience. Nevertheless, Jesus did just that. Paul often addressed the gracious sacrifice of Jesus (cf. I Timothy 1:15; Titus 2:13-14). Paul never lost sight of the great sacrifice of Christ and the need to live unto Him with all his being (cf. Galatians 2:20). The cross was the only way for man to be saved (cf. I Corinthians 1:18-31). Why should anything be convenient for us in view of this?<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jimmy Clark “And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24:25). Paul spoke to Felix about “the faith in Christ” (Acts 24:24). That faith struck at the heart of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[1365,47],"class_list":["post-92655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-convenience","tag-salvation"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":86930,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/go-away-for-now\/","url_meta":{"origin":92655,"position":0},"title":"Go Away for Now","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton Felix trembled at Paul's word regarding righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come (Acts 24:25). His best chance at salvation was right then, but he knew he would have to change, and right then was not a good time to change, he thought. Eternity was hanging\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":30981,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-wrong-for-a-church-to-give-out-a-form-letter-to-its-members-to-send-to-their-representatives\/","url_meta":{"origin":92655,"position":1},"title":"Is it wrong for a church to give out a form letter to its members to send to their representatives?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 16, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I received a church bulletin with a sample letter to be sent to Senators and Representatives demanding the defeat of the Respect for Marriage Act since it broadens the definition of marriage beyond one man and one woman.\u00a0 Although I agree with the content of it, I am of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":90001,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/in-fear-of-truth\/","url_meta":{"origin":92655,"position":2},"title":"In Fear of Truth","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by David Gibson In Acts 24, Paul spoke the truth to power, and power got scared. Felix, Paul's audience, chose to ignore the truth in spite of its obvious effects on him, and was worse off for it. Sometimes the truth hurts the hearer, and sometimes it hurts the truth-teller.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":52523,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/planned-repentance\/","url_meta":{"origin":92655,"position":3},"title":"Planned Repentance","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Cloyce Sutton Several years ago I met a man who was planning to repent. He had been a Christian for some time but worked a job that prevented him from attending services virtually all of the time. Eventually, he quit trying at all and fell away altogether. At the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63673,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-do-you-need-to-serve-the-lord\/","url_meta":{"origin":92655,"position":4},"title":"What Do You Need to Serve the Lord?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 28, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0John 4:34-38 - Jesus told his disciples to serve the Lord by bringing others to Him \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mt. 28:19-20 - Commanded to go into all the world. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We all have this responsibility. II.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Yet, many find excuses to not work. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m not eloquent enough to be of any\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54850,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/conviction\/","url_meta":{"origin":92655,"position":5},"title":"Conviction","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 10, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 11:37-54 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We live our lives avoiding disagreements \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We don\u2019t like being told we are wrong \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We avoid causing other people to be upset with us \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A Nebraska superintendent made the national news because she forbade references to Christmas in her school\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92655","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92655"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92655\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}