"Festus therefore, having arrived in the province, three days later went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.  And the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews brought charges against Paul; and they were urging him, requesting a concession against Paul, that he might have him brought to Jerusalem (at the same time, setting an ambush to kill him on the way).  Festus then answered that Paul was being kept in custody at Caesarea and that he himself was about to leave shortly.  'Therefore,' he said, 'let the influential men among you go there with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them prosecute him."

There is certainly nothing wrong with tenacity.  And these Jewish accusers are tenacious to the extreme.

But look again at their determination, and we see a situation that we often find ourselves in.  The Jewish leaders here are angry with Paul, but they refuse to believe in the possibility of there error.  In other words, they will not listen to anyone except their own selves.

How often has our anger blinded us to the world around us?  How many times have we forgotten to give someone a chance, because we think we are the only ones who deserve a chance?  How many times have you expected someone else was wrong, simply because they challenged you?

It happens to all of us, and it is happening to these Jewish leaders.  The challenge is to learn how to listen before making your decision.

This is what love is; this is God's grace.