Wednesday, September 25, 2024
On the first day of the week, [Paul and his companions] gathered with the local believers [in Troas] to share in the Lord's Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. "Don't worry," he said, "he's alive!" Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord's Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly relieved.
I can't think of a more vivid way to remember the power of the Lord's Supper and the resurrection of Jesus than to have someone fall out of a window and be raised from the dead. Paul certainly had a lot to say that night, and with a crowded room, oil lamps to make one drowsy, and the late hour, Eutychus fell to his death. But in the hands of Paul and by the power of the risen Jesus, Eutychus was raised back to life. Everyone went on with the service. For us, however, the Supper is a reminder. Each Sunday we can remember that because Jesus rose from the dead, we will also be raised as well!*
* See the first set of Related Scripture Readings.
O Father, thank you for loving us so much. Thank you, Jesus, for traveling the same road we travel as mortals, enduring a horrible death, and defeating death through your resurrection to give us the promise of new life. God, we ask that the Holy Spirit reawaken us each Sunday to the assurance of new life as we remember all that Jesus has done and is doing and will do for us as the "I AM" of all history. Thank you, Father, Son, and Spirit, our God and hope and future. Amen.
![Illustration of Acts 20:7-12 NLT — On the first day of the week, [Paul and his companions] gathered with the local believers [in Troas] to share in the Lord's Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. "Don't worry," he said, "he's alive!" Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord's Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly relieved.](https://img.heartlight.org/overlazy/creations/23798.jpg "Illustration of Acts 20:7-12 NLT — On the first day of the week, [Paul and his companions] gathered with the local believers [in Troas] to share in the Lord's Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. \"Don't worry,\" he said, \"he's alive!\" Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord's Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly relieved.")
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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