Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Acts 20:22-24
22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”
I don’t know about you, but when I read these verses, my respect for the Apostle Paul grows. I’m not sure I would have had the courage to continue on his path.
Like Paul, despite all the warnings they heard, Pete and Ellie from last weekend’s At the Movie—Instant Family—chose to move forward to make a difference in the lives of foster children. As anyone with kids could have told them, a teenager in the house changes everything! Never mind a teenager with as much baggage as their new addition, Lizzie, and her two siblings.
There have been times when I, with all good intentions, have similarly tried to help someone. Once, while on staff at CedarCreek, I received a letter that resulted in a friendship with a man in prison. After we’d corresponded and had some visits, my husband and I decided to help him upon his release, knowing there was a good chance he would not stay out of prison. While it hasn’t been a total disaster, it surely did not have the outcome we’d hoped for.
Happy endings, like those for Pete, Ellie and their kids, aren’t guaranteed when we engage in hard things. As Jesus followers, we know there is an enemy working against us. So it shouldn’t surprise us that making a difference is almost never easy. In fact, setbacks are probably indicators that we’re right on track. But just like Paul, God calls us into them regardless, giving us an opportunity to see him move.
Philippians 1:6
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
When we open our hearts up to God’s spirit to make a difference in someone else’s life, the future isn’t up to us. We must trust that God is at work in ways we cannot see nor understand.
Questions:
Has God ever asked you to do a hard thing? Did you talk yourself out of it?
Next Steps:
Write down what he’s asked you to do and pray about it for the next week. Share it with a friend or your life group. Reflect on their input, and then be obedient to what God has asked of you.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I am so grateful you call us to do hard things, knowing that we lack the strength, wisdom, or even desire to do them on our own. It is when we are obedient to your call that we find the purpose for which you created us! Thank you, that in those hard things, we experience more of you. From your strength, we accomplish more than we could ever imagine! Thank you for using us to further your kingdom and creating the adventure of our lives! Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Romans 1:20
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
This post was written by Lauri White, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.