Month: September 2022

Acts 28:3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.

Paul has had a rough road: He was falsely accused, and even though not enough evidence against him was found, his own people, the Jews, objected to his release, prompting his appeal to Caesar. He went through a terrible storm that destroyed the entire ship (and left everyone traumatized, I’m sure). Now he is doing the right thing, the godly thing, serving others by gathering sticks for the fire when a viper bites him. Seriously?!?

Acts 28:4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.”

What strikes me most, though, is Paul’s reaction. He simply shakes the snake off into the fire and continues to serve. He doesn’t rant and rave. He doesn’t curse and scream. He doesn’t demand to know why he’s being persecuted (all reactions that I am guilty of under stress and duress). He shakes it off and keeps going, resting in God’s promise to him.

Acts 28:5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.

Lord, Forgive me when I get overwhelmed and react badly. Thank You for understanding the way that I’m wired, the way that I process. Thank You also for showing me a better way to respond—peace and trust in You. It’s hard for me to see how I can change that much, but I know that with You, all things are possible. Help me to trust, Lord. Amen.

Acts 28:6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

Have a blessed day.

Acts 27:22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.

If I were on this ship with Paul, would I have been able to believe him? Even as a follower of Christ, I’m pretty sure I would have struggled to resolve the knowledge that the ship would be destroyed but all lives would be saved. How is that possible?

Acts 27:23-24 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’

I’ve a curious mind. I’m all about the why and the how of situations. “Why are we in this mess? Why me? Why this? Why now? And how is it possible to save every soul yet lose the entire ship? None of this makes sense.” But Paul doesn’t advocate sense in this situation. He advocates courage and faith in God.

Acts 27:25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.

Lord, Thank You for Your sovereignty, love, and grace. Thank You both for creating me with this insatiable curiosity and for reminding me that courage and faith in You are all that is truly needed. Draw me closer as I weather life’s storms. Help me to shine Your light. Amen.

Acts 27:26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

Have a blessed day.

Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

Today’s scripture is a reminder that God can use all things, that God can bring beauty from ashes. Agrippa remarks what a shame it is that Paul appealed to Caesar, for he could have been set free otherwise. Except that by appealing to Caesar, Paul has avoided at least two assassination plots and been able to share the Good News with two kings.

Acts 26:29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

This year’s transition from summer to new school year has been tremendously, frustratingly difficult for me. There’s not enough time, there’s so much stress and overwhelm. It’s a real shame…. Except that I know God is here, that He’s working in all of this. I know I’m making connections with students, providing hope and encouragement, I know He can use all of my stress, frustration, and overwhelm, that He can and is and will bring beauty from these ashes.

Acts 26:30-31 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”

Lord, Thank You for the perspective in today’s scripture. Thank You that nothing done for You is in vain. Thank You that You have a plan and a purpose for my life, that You uniquely equipped me and called me for that purpose. Thank You that You are with me. Always. Even in the struggle. Amen.

Acts 26:32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Have a blessed day.

Acts 25:5 Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.”

Jesus seems to be reminding me in today’s passage that we live in an unjust world. The Jews are so set on eliminating Paul that they are plotting ambush and murder. Paul is so set on sharing the Good News of Jesus that he’s not afraid to die but he’s not interested in being martyred. Festus is trying to do right, but he’s really confused about this situation with Paul and the Jews and what exactly is going on.

Acts 25:7 When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them.

We live in an unjust world. People do mean, evil things, sometimes on a whim, sometimes because they are convinced they are doing right. However, there are people willing to stand up for what’s right, willing to risk death to share the Good News of Christ. And there are people who are trying to get the facts, find out what’s really going on, and stand up for what’s right.

Acts 25:11 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!”

Lord, We live in an unjust world. That’s a fact. There are bad people and evil people and misguided people. But there are also good people, dedicated to You and to what’s right. And there are people who are trying to figure out the truth. Help me not to lose sight of the good. Help me to always be part of the good. Help me to shine Your light. Amen.

Acts 25:18-19 When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.

Have a blessed day.

Acts 24:2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation.

Several things struck me in this chapter: The flattery heaped on the judge by the accusers, hoping the get their way, Paul’s matter-of-fact and direct accounting of his actions and words, Felix’s knowledge of the truth (Paul is innocent) but refusal to do the right thing (let Paul go) for fear of the crowd.

Acts 24:4 But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.

That last one should sound familiar as it is also what Pilate did to Jesus: refuse to free Him while knowing He was innocent. Pilate, instead, tries to wash his hands of the situation and do nothing. I guess the saying, “Everything old is new again” applies to the Bible as well. Flattery, truth, refusal to make waves even for the truth—all of these are still seen in abundance today.

Acts 24:18 I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.

Lord, Forgive me for the times that I have known what was right but done nothing for fear of man’s judgement. Forgive me for the times I’ve used flattery hoping to get my own way. Help me to always be matter-of-fact and direct, to shine Your light, and to comfort Your people. Amen.

Acts 24:26-27 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him. When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

Have a blessed day.

Acts 23:10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

Have you ever felt so beleaguered by your circumstances that you just want a break, you just want God to cut you some slack, give you a little rest, just a chance to get your feet under you and catch your breath? The fatalist in me is starting to think that’s my permanent condition these days. Today’s scripture is showing me that my pity party is wearing thin. If I’m bemoaning my circumstances, then God’s not at my center. I am. That’s not good.

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.”

Commentary says of this section: “We often demand that Jesus deliver us out of our circumstances, when He wants to meet us right in them….” That’s a message straight for my heart today. Are you struggling in a similar manner? Take heart. He sees us. He knows. He is waiting to meet us in the middle of our circumstances.

Acts 23:14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.

Lord, I didn’t even realize I was making life about me. Forgive me. I am struggling. Help me. Meet me in my mess. Draw me closer to You. Help me to shine Your light. Amen.

Acts 23:24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”

Have a blessed day.

Acts 22:17-18 “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’

Paul was zealous in his persecution of Christians until he had a personal encounter with Christ, lost his sight for a bit, but finally saw the light. He was just as enthusiastic about converting Jews and Gentiles to Christianity as he had previously been about persecuting Christians. He was all in.

Acts 22:19 “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you.

What strikes me about Acts 22:17-21 is that Paul is explaining to Jesus why Paul’s way, Paul’s plan, is best. He’s not trying to be difficult or argumentative. He just thinks he’s right. And Jesus is wrong. “But God, here’s why my way is best.” And Jesus doesn’t argue or chastise or smite. He says, gently, firmly, “Go.”

Acts 22:20 And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’

Lord, I have such a heart for You and for Your people. Thank You. Forgive me for those times when I think my way is best. Gently correct me and keep me focused on You alone. Amen.

Acts 22:21 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

Have a blessed day.

Acts 21:4 We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.

My students and I have been having very interesting conversations this past week about failure, the nature of failure, the value of learning from failure, and the fact that failure is not valued by most people.

Acts 21:10-11 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ”

Today’s scripture brought these conversations to mind. I don’t like pain and suffering. I’m not a big fan of inconvenience of any sort. Most people aren’t. But I have learned that if I allow God access to my whole heart during such trials, He will draw me closer to Him in trials than I can ever get when times are good.

Acts 21:12-13 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Lord, Thank You for the reminder that failure and suffering can be useful in this life if we allow You to access to our hearts, if we strive to draw closer to You through our difficulties. Help me draw closer to You every minute of every day. Thank You that You can turn my ashes into beauty. Amen.

Acts 21:33 The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.

Have a blessed day.