Sunday, September 22, 2024
When the uproar [in Ephesus] was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia.
Paul faced opposition from many sides but continued his mission undeterred! Rather than wading into the mob that had been rioting against the Christians, Paul sent for the believers in Ephesus. They came to him. As we will see as Acts continues to unfold, he will also send for the leaders of the house churches in Ephesus to come to him (Acts 20:17). Those who wished to harm Paul will chase him all the way to Jerusalem (Acts 21:27-28). Despite opposition, Paul found ways to encourage new believers in Jesus and strengthen them for the challenges that lay ahead of them. And Paul also had his places to go to find encouragement: Philippi and Thessalonica, cities in Macedonia where there were Christians who loved and supported him.* None of us is strong enough to make it on our own if we truly seek to live on mission for Jesus. That is why Paul and the early believers embodied the following command given to us by the Holy Spirit:
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end (Hebrews 3:12-14 NIV).
* See Related Scripture Readings for several references on persecution, Macedonian friends, and encouragement.
O Father, I want to be part of a generation of believers who are undeterred by threat and danger. We ask you, dear Holy Spirit — the presence of the living God within us — to make us strong and give us words to say in the face of perilous and challenging situations, just as the Lord Jesus promised us you would. Awaken us to the power of encouragement and our need for each other every day. Awaken us to the unstoppable power of your message of grace, dear Father, as we are propelled and compelled by the Holy Spirit to share it with all who are lost. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
![Illustration of Acts 20:1-3 NLT — When the uproar [in Ephesus] was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia.](https://img.heartlight.org/overlazy/creations/23795.jpg "Illustration of Acts 20:1-3 NLT — When the uproar [in Ephesus] was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia.")
Unstoppable! is a one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage, a reflection and a prayer. The reflection opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges one to live for Jesus.
Unstoppable! is written by Phil Ware.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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