Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.” Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?” Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!” After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

--Parallel verses:
‭‭Acts‬ ‭23‬:‭11‬
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭1‬-‭5‬
“As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

Fulfilling God’s plans and purposes in our life — in other words, letting his Spirit have full authority in the way we live and the manner in which we shine the light of Christ in a dark world — this is and should remain a primal life focus for us.

Paul understood this. God told him he would speak in Rome and bear witness to Jesus there. Paul’s legal appeal was within his rights. It was not so much an appeal for justice, though the hope of justice might be nice. It was primarily an appeal to fulfill God’s plan for his life. It was an action that took into account God’s plan.

God’s plans for our lives can be communicated by God himself in the present, as in Paul’s case. Or by a prophet of God, as in the case of Jesus, who fulfilled the prophecy about riding on the colt of a donkey through the streets.

I must ask myself today: do I see my daily actions or inactions in the light of how they line up with God fulfilling his plan through me? Do I keep at the forefront of my mind God’s master plan of redemption for the human race (though it may not always be easy to understand or be the most convenient or comfortable for me to execute)? Am I willing to go through hardship and do the growth work God wants me to complete?

Lord, I have spent so much of the time in my life focused on myself, my plans for you, and my preferences about how you should use me. Transform my mind every day to seek you first and your kingdom and your righteousness! Then I can trust you to provide, and I will focus on fulfilling your will. Thank you for Jesus’ and Paul’s example here. Embolden me to follow in their footsteps!