Acts 27 is truly a gripping story. The details recorded by Luke make this passage a real nail biter! This section is describing Paul’s shipwreck on the Island of Malta as he was a prisoner proceeding to Rome to speak for God.

In a previous encounter with Jesus, when Paul was almost torn to pieces in a riot, Jesus had appeared to him and told him that he would not die in prison, but that he needed to go to Rome to preach the Gospel. God proceeded to protect Paul as the Roman Commander sent 470 troops to guard Paul from those who had made a vow to kill him.

Now that he is on the ship and going through a terrible storm that lasted 14 days and in which everyone had given up assuming they would be killed, an angel came to Paul and told Paul again that he would not die but that he would make it to Rome.

The question that hits me is, “why did this storm have to happen since God had already promised to take Paul to Rome?” Why did Paul and the other 267 passengers have to endure such a horrendous experience? The problem is the text does not say!

Here again we see that even though God had promised Paul that he would make it to Rome, this leg of the journey was anything but easy. He and those with him struggled with all their might to save themselves from destruction, but it was God who protected them as they put forth their effort. We can assume that many were open to the Gospel after Paul’s predictions came true, but again, the text does not say.

Father, thank you for Luke and his careful recording of this story in Paul’s life. Paul’s faith must have been tested as he endured 14 days and nights at sea thinking that certain destruction was imminent. Yet, we see him living by faith and trusting in your promise to take him to Rome. Even so, you saw fit to send an angel to encourage him in this great time of trial.

May you help me to live in the moment and trust you every minute of the day as I do. May you call to memory your promises to me so that I may be an example of living by faith as Paul was.

Following Jesus with you,

Jeff

The story of Ruth is one of the most touching stories in all the Bible. In it you see real people living through real challenges. Ruth loses her husband and leaves her people to go with her mother-in-law back to the Jews and adopts the Jewish people and their God. Since they had both lost their husbands, they had no one to provide for them. In that culture they were in a very vulnerable and desperate position.

Ruth (a Moabite) made a tremendous step of faith to stay with Naomi as a foreigner. She worked hard at trying to get enough food for her and Naomi. She gleaned the leftovers of the harvest from the fields of Boaz, one of Naomi’s relatives. By God’s gracious work through Boaz, the needs of Ruth and Naomi were met as Ruth worked hard.

It is easy to read that story and not think much of it. Yet God was very active in working through others to meet the needs of this great woman of faith. But, I think we also see another example of God honoring effort. Ruth worked long hours to get just enough food for her and Naomi. If she had not worked hard, they would have gone hungry. Because of the action of Ruth, Boaz commanded his servants to protect her.  God’s protection also came from her initiative.

Faith in God should be partnered with effort. As Augustine said, we need to “Pray as though everything depended on God; work as though everything depended on you.”

Father, thank you for you intimate care of me and my family. I often do not see your active role in our lives, but I know through the examples in scripture that you are more involved in the minute details of our lives than I fully realize. Thank you for loving me enough to care about the details and abundantly meet our needs as I work hard and trust in you.

Following Jesus with you,

Jeff

This morning I was struck with the wording of Ps. 9:2-3 which says, “I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.”

The meaning of these verses could be stated by, “I will give thanks to you, LORD with my whole and complete heart. I will lay out all the details of the marvelous works that you have done. I will be glad and exceedingly joyful in you. I will sing a song of gratitude to your name (with or without a stringed instrument), Highest or most lofty One!”

The expanded description of this passage highlights so many things that I should be doing because of God’s goodness to me. I need to be more thankful for his work in my life. I need to lay out the details of his goodness so I remember them and this will help me find my joy in God. I need to take the time to verbally express my gratitude to God because he is amazing!

Father, thank you for your overwhelming goodness toward me. May I take the time to recount the details of that goodness because it will cause me to be thankful with my whole heart. I can find true and lasting joy in my relationship with you alone.

Following Jesus with you,

Jeff

Acts 23 tells us of Paul’s continued challenges as he preached the Good News about Christ. In this passage he encounters trouble with those opposed to him.  He knew the differences between the Pharisees and the Sadducees and was able to pit them against one another in an attempt to evade a mob. A very intense fight resulted between those parties to the point that the Roman military commander was “afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces.” As a result, he rescued Paul for a second time and brought him to the barracks for protection.

After these events it is very possible that Paul was discouraged and needed encouragement, I know I would!  That night in verse 11 is says, “the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.’”

Did you notice the text says that “the Lord stood by him”? Many commentators interpret this as a vision Paul had, but the text does not say that and the Greek simple says that Jesus “stood by him.” It is possible that Jesus appeared to Paul and spoke to him so that he would press on with courage in his mission. Jesus lets him know that his current troubles would not stop him from going to Rome. God’s plan for him was not done!

As the story continues, 40 opponents of Paul took a vow to kill him but the son of his sister informed the Roman Commander about the plot. What does the Commander do? In verses 23-24 it says, “Then he called two of the centurions and said, ‘Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to aFelix the governor.’”

Isn’t it amazing how God ensured that Paul was protected and escorted to Rome so that he could testify for him? God not only protected him, but he even gave Paul a mount to ride for the journey!

Father, it is so easy to see the negative in difficult circumstances and forget how you do not miss anything going on in my life. I also can forget how easily you can work through men to accomplish your will for me. May you help me to remember this story when challenges come because you proved that you cared about Paul and were dependable in relation to your promise to him as you abundantly provided for him.

Following Jesus with you,

Jeff

Psalm 1:1-2 were a great reminder for me this morning. This passage says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

The words that stood out to me today are “blessed,” “delight” and “meditates.” The word “blessed” is describing someone who is in a good position. This person is “happy” or “fortunate” and the Greek translation of this passage uses the same word in the Beatitudes (Mt. 5:3-11). This passage shows us again that happiness is the byproduct of something else. In this case it comes from delighting in and meditating upon God’s Word.

How does “delight” relate to the law of the LORD? Notice the Translator’s Handbook of the Book of Psalms says, “In translation it is important to make clear the relation between delight and the law of the Lord. This may often be done by using two verb forms … ‘find joy’ and ‘obeying.’ The first can often be the cause and the second the result; for example, ‘Because they obey the Law of the Lord, they are happy.’”

Happiness comes from finding my joy and pleasure in the will of God. I become aware of this as I “meditate” on the Word. The same Handbook gives great insight to the word meditate when it says the word means, “‘reads carefully,’ ‘studies,’ ‘pores over’… meaning intensive, careful reading and study. ..Meditates may often be rendered as ‘reading and thinking about.’”

For me to be able to carefully read the Word in this manner, I need to make time for it! Such study and contemplation as to its meaning and application to my life does not come easily. I must find time to think deeply about the Word, and find my delight in obedience because this will result in my joy.

Father, thank you for allowing me to have your Word and be able to read it and study it. Help me to understand your Word, and apply it to my life because that is where my true joy is found.

Following Jesus with you,

Jeff

In Mark 14:36, Jesus begins to pray to God asking him to remove the cup of his coming death and yet he concludes by saying, “not my will, but yours be done.”

In addressing God, Jesus uses the description “Abba, Father.” “Abba” is Aramaic and was the common language of the day. “Father” is the equivalent meaning of that term. Some think Mark supplied the translation and some think that Jesus said both. Either way, the meaning of these terms are significant, especially at the time Jesus spoke them in prayer. Notice what the ESV Study Bible says about this,

“Abba” in Aramaic, the everyday language spoken by Jesus (cf. Mark 14:36; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6). It was the word used by Jewish children for their earthly fathers. However, since the term in both Aramaic and Greek was also used by adults to address their fathers, the claim that “Abba” meant “Daddy” is misleading and runs the risk of irreverence. Nevertheless, the idea of praying to God as “Our Father” conveys the authority, warmth, and intimacy of a loving father’s care.”

In prayer, Jesus is expressing his trust in his loving and caring Father and his course of obedience proves it. As he is about to experience beating, torture and crucifixion for us, he proceeds to allow himself to be arrested knowing he is in the loving care of his Father who is sovereign over all things. He lives by faith in the character of his Father as he is betrayed and as he suffered for us.

Abba, Father, thank you for your authority in my life, your warmth and intimate care of me. As I approach today, may I walk in the encouragement of this truth. May I especially remember this truth as I walk through challenging times in life.

Following Jesus with you,

Jeff

I was really impressed with Acts 17:26-28 today. This passage describes Paul’s message to the people in Athens who had an alter that said, “to the unknown god.” In a couple of ways this alter is admirable. First, the people realized that there was a god, and second, they also realized they did not know who God was.

To this group Paul declares, “He (God) made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘in him we live and move and have our being.’”

The audience should be aware that God is the one who has created everyone from Adam. He is the one who has allowed them to experience the benefits of the Roman Empire, the boundries of their influence and their very existence.In fact God is very near to everyone.

How is God near? In verses 30-31, Paul says, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Paul masterfully described their situation. They had been groping in the dark trying to find God in creation. God is near to everyone because the way to have a relationship with him has been made clear. It took special revelation from God for us to know him. Since Jesus died for our sin and communicated the way of salvation, the time for claiming ignorance is gone. Everyone needs to embrace Jesus as their Savior and God for the forgiveness of sins and for life, then a relationship will begin with the knowable God.

Father, what a great reminder of your nearness to me, but also your knowability. You are not the unknown God anymore! The way to know you is clear. Those who embrace Jesus as Savior and God have the privilege of a relationship with you!

Following Jesus with you,

Jeff

Paul and Silas are examples of people who suffered unjustly. In Acts 16: 23-24 it says, “And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.” This suffering came simply because they had healed a demon possessed slave who no longer could make her owners a profit.

Paul and Silas should not have been treated in such a manner because they were Roman citizens. This beating most likely was very sever. As Lenski states, “Under the many blows the skin would be broken, the blood would ooze out, and inflamed welts would cover the whole back.” The text also said that they were thrown into prison after the beating. Roman prisons had three sections. The first allowed prisoners light and air. The second area put them behind locked bars and gates and the third was the dungeon and used for executions. It is most likely in this third inner section of the prison that Paul and Silas were confined.

They were not just put in a cell, but the jailer “fastened their feet in the stocks.” Most likely the stocks were also a form of torture. In the stocks the feet were spread farther apart than they normally could go and then locked in place causing great pain.

This dark dungeon in which Paul and Silas are suffering would be a great place to start complaining and feeling sorry for themselves. Yet verse 25 says, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” Are you kidding me! They were singing? No wonder the text says the other prisoners were listening to them! Could they have been the first brutally beaten and tortured prisoners singing instead of moaning and complaining in this inner dungeon? What an amazing witness they had in the midst of the darkest time of their lives!

Tertullian, an early Christian author who lived around 200AD said, “Nothing the limb feels in the stocks when the mind is in heaven.” Wow! Paul and Silas somehow were more focused on their relationship with God and their gratitude for their salvation than their pain.

Father, my difficulties in life are not even worth mentioning when compared to what Paul and Silas suffered. In my problems in life, I rarely sing and praise you. Help me to have the right focus when suffering comes. Help me to respond in trials with complete trust in you and your will for me and give me the grace to display your character when the hards times come. Thanks for loving me.

Following Jesus with you,

Jeff

In Jeremiah 24:7 it says, “And I’ll give them a heart to know me, GOD. They’ll be my people and I’ll be their God, for they’ll have returned to me with all their hearts” (The Message).

In the context, the Jews were going to be taken captive, but God promised to restore them to the land and that one day they would long to know God and embrace him with their whole heart. This reminds me of something Jesus said when he responded to one of the pharisees trying to trick him about the greatest commandment. Jesus said the greatest commandment is, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Mt. 22:37).

Both of these passages are describing what the number one allegiance of my heart should be. As a disciple of Jesus, no one is to be my primary allegiance other than God.

This truth ties in to Mark 10 where the rich man came to Jesus, but left disheartened because he could not give up his wealth to follow him. Jesus exposed the heart of the rich man so that it was clear that he had a competing allegiance that made following Jesus the way he desired impossible. In fact, Jesus comments on that truth later in the passage by saying, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Mk 10:25). Why? Because it is very hard for those who have much to keep God the center of their lives. Competing interests can easily lead us astray.

Father, I am very blessed with your provision, protection and comfort. In fact, no generation has had it easier than I do. With this prosperity it is also so easy to be distracted from a whole heart commitment to you. Is their something distracting me from wholeheartedly following you? If so, please show me what it is.

May you, by your gracious enabling help me to follow you with a whole heart. You are my God and I desire you to be the number one priority of my life.

Following Jesus with you,

Jeff

In Judges 8, Gideon makes a memorable statement in verse 4 when he says that he and his men were “exhausted yet pursuing.” In the context, Gideon and his 300 men were pursuing the Midianites and their kings. I can only imagine how tired they must have been as they fought overwhelming numbers for many hours and then pursued their enemies as they fled. Gideon and his men did not have enough food and water to replenish their strength. They were spent and yet they continued on in an effort to accomplish the LORD’S will.

Have you ever felt “exhausted and yet pursuing” the LORD’s will in you life? I think sometimes we can view the normal life of a disciple of Jesus as an easy, carefree life insulated from problems and worries. Obviously, that is not the case. Even though God had given the victory over the Midianites to Gideon and his men, they exerted great effort to experience that victory. They were not passive, but very active in cooperating with the work of God and the path of obedience took all their strength.

I need to remember that my pursuit of Jesus and following his will is not necessarily easy or automatic. In my relationship with him, I can’t be passive. Rather, I need to be active and then he will prosper my efforts as I follow him. I also need to remember that there will be times in my life when that path of obedience is the hard path.

One final observation of Gideon and his men is that they were not always exhausted. Most of us will not be exhausted following Jesus all the time.  That is encouraging and shows there may be seasons in my life that are harder than others.  I need to remember to be thankful for the times when life feels like a downhill path.

Father, I love the statement by Gideon, “exhausted but pursuing.” Will you help me to do my part in following you and as I do, will you prosper my efforts to become like you? When following you is the uphill path, may you give me the strength to pursue you and your will like Gideon.

Following Jesus with you,

Jeff