"When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul." Acts 23:12, NAS95.

Today's exciting chapter in Acts has a interesting wrinkle in it. While Paul is awaiting trial on charges of bringing an unbeliever into the temple, a group of people decide to band together to kill him on the way to that trial. When I read about the oath I had to laugh a bit because these guys were going to die hungry and thirsty.

There is a second lesson here that I want to point out. I have met many hungry and thirsty people that were victims of their own vows. To make an oath or a vow is to promise yourself and/or God that you will do something. It may be as innocuous as not eating cookies during lent or as life-defining as these men, but nonetheless you become a slave to it. It is this slavery that leaves us hungry and tired.

There are three types of vows: Conscious vows, unconscious vows, and pacts. Conscious vows are like resolutions and lenten commitments. These are not just points of discipline, but promises. Unconscious vows are a larger category that could take a whole post. These are things we promise ourselves throughout our lives to protect our heart. Things like, "I will never let someone hurt me again," or "When I have my own family, I will never..." Pacts are vows made with others.

Why are vows a bad plan for a believer? Vows negate God's grace and plans for our lives. Vows make us the Lord of our lives. It is by our will and power that we are going to direct and accomplish our lives when we vow leaving no room for God. Jesus taught us another way. He says, "But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil." (Matthew 5:37, NAS95).

The way to return from the hunger and thirst of our vows to identify and renounce them. When we find areas of our heart that we have been protecting, we instead give that place of our heart back to God and let Him have lordship over it again. He knows how to protect our hearts better than we do. As you do, you will experience the freedom you have been looking for. 

Have a great day!

Thursday

Love, 
Pastor Stuart