Acts 26:2
I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
Think of brother Paul... He always wanted to preach the gospel in Rome so that all the world would know of God's salvation. He knew that "all roads lead to Rome" and that if he could carry the message there, it could spread to all the world. One thing Paul didn't account for was HOW he would go to Rome or who would be his audience. He was not on a cruise ship with room service, but was on a board after the ship was broken to pieces. He wasn't with his crew of preacher friends, but with guards and chains. He wasn't set up in the 4 or 5 star hotel, but was in the prison. But notice what Paul says when he stands before the King. They tell him, after much hardship and wait, that he has the freedom to speak for himself. Paul then shocks the world, as well as me, by saying these next words...
"I think myself happy" said Paul... Wow! How many of us would be happy about the situation he was in? Too many think today that they deserve the best of things. Like a hotel, cruise ship, friends who wait on them hand and foot. The truth of it all is that people think this way because they don't have their eyes on Jesus and the full blessing of sharing the gospel.
Paul was happy because he was finally at the place where God wanted him to be. He wanted to share his testimony and now he is about to share it to the King. All the trials of how he had gotten there faded into the background when he was finally able to the share the gospel.
Why do you spend your time whining about what materialistic things you're missing out on when you could be sharing the gospel? Maybe the trial you've gone through to get to the place you are is for a greater reason.
Are you happy? How happy? Not the happiness that the world offers, but the joy that Jesus offers. You see Paul wasn't happy about the shipwrecks, inprisonments, beatings, or chains... He was happy about sharing the Gospel!
