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Acts Reading Plan | Week 15 | Day 2
Prayer
Allow some silence for your soul to catch up with your body.
Ephesians 2:9-10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We can get beat down in this world, thinking we have nothing to contribute. God says the opposite – he created you for a purpose! As you come to meet with Him today, thank God for saving you for a purpose! Ask Him to open your eyes to His purpose for you today.
Bible Reading: Acts 20:13-24
Read these verses three times slowly.
We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus.Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost. From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
Reflection & Questions
Paul is continuing his missionary journey spreading the gospel. But even as he advances, he is very much mindful of the churches he has planted. Today, we read that while continuing to new towns, he sent for the elders of the church of Ephesus (which he started) to encourage and strengthen them, but also to tell them goodbye, as he is sure this is the last time he will see them.
His words to them will continue into tomorrow’s reading, but what he said in today’s reading is remarkable: “I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Paul has completely surrendered his life to his Lord and Savior. It doesn’t matter to him if prison and hardship is ahead. He is a servant of Jesus, the most High God! His aim is to finish the task Jesus has given him – nothing else matters. He lives for an audience of One.
- If you were to look back over the last week, what would it tell you about your aim in life?
- What is the task the Lord Jesus has given you? How do you know? Is it your aim to complete it?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to today’s reading. Ask God about the task He has for you, and take time to listen to Him. Ask Him to help you complete it.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
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Questions?
Ed Applegate
