Run

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

RUN

Acts 20:17-24

17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. 22 "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

NIV

Paul said that he served the Lord with great humility and with tears, even in the face of opposition from the Jews. This is the first clue about how we should live with great humility and tears. We know what pride looks like, and we need to avoid it strenuously. If we are learning from Jesus, who said for us to do, then we would be gentle and humble of heart. Paul also told them that he did not hesitate to preach anything that would be helpful to them, which is another clue for our lives. When we speak with our fellow believers, we should not hesitate to talk about what would be helpful to them. We should be building others up, but also declaring that both believers and non-believers turn to God in repentance, or with a changed mind. The other truth we are faced with is this compelling sense Paul felt from the Spirit. This is one of the top clues we should ponder with an open heart. Do we live compelled by our own senses, or by the Spirit? Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, not knowing what would happen to him there. That is the core of a Spirit-led life. When we live according to, or are compelled by, the Spirit, then we live outside our own plans. We think all too often that we want our plans to come to pass. That is the way of the world, the way we were raised: to find a path to success, an endeavor for life, to accomplish something, to accumulate stuff important to us. Do we make decisions based on our desires, or will, or are we living under the compulsion of the Spirit? The Spirit warned Paul that he would face prison and hardship, not an apple-pie-in-the-sky type of life. That is not to say we are supposed to be facing hardships, but the point is whether we are living under the compulsion of the Spirit. A key to living by the Spirit is to consider our lives as worth nothing, but to focus on finishing the race and completing the task the Lord Jesus has given us. For Paul, that was testifying to the gospel of God's grace. That could be our task, but we might be compelled by the Spirit to finish another task. The point is, whatever we have been called to or compelled to do, we should run that race to the finish line. How can we stop in the middle of the race? How can we think that we have already finished the race? No, we are compelled by the Spirit to run with the desire to complete the task we have been called to. We must simply run. 

His Arrival

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLE

HIS ARRIVAL

Acts 20:13-16

13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15 The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Kios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.

NIV

Once again, it appears that we have nothing more than a travel log, except for the desire by Paul to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost. Why did he want to be in Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost? That was a special day in Jewish tradition, known as the week of harvest or the feast of weeks. For Christians, it is fifty days after the resurrection, but for the Jews, it is the beginning of the first wheat harvest, which occurs fifty days after the barley harvest. However, it does not appear that Paul wanted to be in Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks, but rather for the day of Pentecost, which must have centered on the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Although everything is about Jesus, and Paul preached Jesus, he also spoke of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We believers talk about Jesus because he is our salvation. We accept the work Jesus did on our behalf, going to the cross, taking all our sins upon himself, paying the penalty for us, so that we are forgiven, declared holy and blameless in the eyes of God. Through Jesus, we have eternal life, as he promised that although this body will die, we will live. Jesus also promised to send the Holy Spirit, and that happened on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. Therefore, we live in Jesus, and the Holy Spirit lives in us. Of course, we had to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and in some sense, we must also accept the Holy Spirit. Jesus sent him, but he told his disciples to wait for the gift from the Father, the promised Holy Spirit. Jesus told them and us that although we get baptized in water, we will be baptized with the Holy Spirit and will receive power when the Spirit comes upon us. Paul knew all about that power and wanted to spend time with the apostles in Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost. We celebrate Jesus, but let us also celebrate the Holy Spirit on the day of his arrival in our lives. 

Enthusiasm

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

ENTHUSIASM

Acts 20:7-12

7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "He's alive!" 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

NIV

How much did Paul have to say that he spoke from the morning through midnight? He did not have all four of the gospel accounts or any of the letters he had written, although his fourteen letters, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Titus,  Philemon, and maybe even Hebrews, give us just how much Paul had to say about living a Christ-centered life. He was filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit, excited to share all about Jesus and the incredible life available to those who believe in him. Yet, as enthusiastic a speaker as Paul was, a young man sitting in the window fell deep in sleep and fell out, dropping three stories to his death. Maybe Paul was not that great a speaker, if he put people to sleep, but he was talking all day and into the late hours of the night. But it was not the end of the young man as Paul went down, lay over him, wrapped his arms around him, and simply stated a fact, "He's alive!" Then he went back upstairs and continued to talk until daylight. What do we learn from this narrative? We may not be able to speak for that many hours, but Paul spoke from his heart. That is what we can learn, to speak from our hearts. However, first we should have the truth deep within our hearts, not just talk about the scriptures intellectually. God has said that he has written the law, his word, upon our hearts and minds, and so we should have that enthusiasm, that spark, that comes from being filled to overflowing with the Spirit. The one thing that is not as clear as it could be is the reason the people were comforted. Was it because they were able to take the young man who was dead, but now is alive, home, or was it because of everything Paul had to say about Jesus and the resurrection, that although we die, we will live and much more about how we will be changed in a twinkly of an eye when Jesus returns to take us up to heaven to live in the place he has prepared for us? We know that when we read the word of God, we are comforted. The word of God brings us great joy and peace; our hearts are settled as we can be still within our hearts because we know He is God. We can live stress-free, worry-free because we put all our trust in Jesus. Because we are filled with the Spirit, we can speak about Jesus with enthusiasm. 

Encouragement

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

ENCOURAGEMENT

Acts 20:1-6

20:1 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-by and set out for Macedonia. 2 He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3 where he stayed three months. Because the Jews made a plot against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

NIV

Although most of this is a travel log and a list of those who traveled with Paul, one truth stands out: the word "encouragement." When he set out from Ephesus, after the uproar had settled down because of the City Clerk, Paul first called all the disciples and embraced or encouraged them, suggesting he wanted them to remain faithful to Jesus Christ. When he set out for Macedonia, he traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people. We should learn that lesson well and keep it deep within our being. We should always be about speaking words of encouragement and building each other up, so we all walk faithfully, steadfastly, persistently, and continually in our believing in Jesus. We know Jesus is supposed to be the center of our lives, being the very core of our daily walk or activities. That is everything we do, wherever we go, whoever we encounter, Jesus is the center of our attention, our thinking, our speaking, encouraging people to trust wholly in Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life; no one gets to the Father except through Jesus.  He is the resurrection and the life; the only way to live, even though we die, is because of or through the work of Jesus. We can encourage others to keep their faith in Jesus, for it is by faith we are saved, not by works or anything that we can do. Yet, although we need to have faith in Jesus for our salvation, it is solely Jesus' work that saves us. Our salvation is not based on our faith, but on the work of Jesus. In that sense, our faith means that we accept what Jesus did for us, believing it is all about Him and what he did. These are truly words of encouragement because we cannot save ourselves, but Jesus saves us. Our salvation does not depend on us; it depends on Jesus. Let us always speak words of encouragement to each other. 

Grievances

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

 GRIEVANCES

Acts 19:35-41

35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: "Men of Ephesus, doesn't all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today's events. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it." 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

NIV

The city clerk was a man of reason as he laid out what was happening: they were almost at the point of rioting, driven by emotions or their own interests. He instructed them regarding a legal way to settle any dispute with the people of the Way. What can we learn from this advice from the city clerk? First, we would like to believe there are never any disputes within the church, or rather, the community of believers, but we know that what we would like to believe does not matter, as disputes have occurred within the church. In fact, disputes happen within marriages, even in the lives of believers. But it is the church that should be of one mind, guided by the principles of faith, scripture, and, of course, the Holy Spirit. Yet we know some believers struggle with unforgiveness, holding on to bitterness that is almost on the fringe of hatred. It seemed that Demetrius was motivated by his loss of income, which drove him to hate those spreading the truth about Jesus. Was he bitter because of the truth about Jesus, because he truly believed his faith in the goddess Diana was right? Maybe disputes are always about both people thinking their opinion is right. But how can we believers, if we have learned from Jesus and have a gentle and humble heart, still be in opposition, to the point of a dispute, including having ill feelings for one another or hurt feelings? The city clerk warned the men of Ephesus that they were in danger of being charged with rioting. Although we know that God have forgiven our sins, but at the same time are we being charged for having such attitudes that cause disputes among us? We know that if we do not forgive one another, God will not forgive us, so then should we not live in peace, especially when Jesus gave us his peace? If we live in accordance with the truth, we would be building each other up, encouraging one another, forgiving one another, in essence, loving one another, which should mean any disputes simply dissolve instantly. Can we disagree about something? Sure, but we are still supposed to love each other and therefore never allow any dispute to arise or harbor any grievance against one another.  

Great is God of Heaven and Earth

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

GREAT IS GOD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

Acts 19:28-35

28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater. 32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33 The Jews pushed Alexander to the front, and some of the crowd shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: "Men of Ephesus, doesn't all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven?

NIV

It is interesting how one man can become a mob, with most of them not even knowing what the protest is all about. Demitrius, the silversmith, was in the center of it all, and his motivation was his profit or his concern about money. However, he used the goddess Artemis as his excuse to create this riot. When they heard about what he suggested would happen to their beloved goddess, they rushed into the theater 6as one man. We wonder if people are that vehement about a statue in a temple that cannot hear, see, or speak to them. It is this statement of the city clerk that is the most bothersome. The way he worded it makes it sound like the image of Artemis fell from heaven. How is that possible since the temple and an image would have been crafted by the hands of men? The name Artemis in Greek means Diana, and it was supposed that her image was a gift from Jupiter to the city of Ephesus. No doubt this was perpetrated by the priests who served, or made their income from serving in the temple. How could anyone have seen a statue fall from the sky? Lies can be easier to believe than the truth. The crowd was confused because most of them had no idea what the commotion was about; they were only following a few who had caused it. How would this play out in our culture today? The news is happy to report on the protests about anything. However, it is the world, or the people who serve themselves, who usually cause the chaos of the protest. Why are we Christians so silent about our God? The people of Ephesus shouted loudly, creating chaos over a god they had never been blessed by, or heard speak, or had any written account of. We have both a written account of our God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We have eyewitness testimony to the truth of Jesus, and we have first-hand knowledge and experience of the Holy Spirit's presence within us, yet for most of the time, we remain silent in the public square. There are a few high-profile people who get some attention, but we as believers barely speak to anyone in the world about Jesus. Shouldn't we be causing a crowd? The men of Ephesus rushed into the theater as one man, or as one accord. We wonder how much accord there is among believers when we see so many divisions, with so many denominations, each with its own interpretation of scripture. There are even differing views within a single church. How could we stand as one accord that would throw our community into an uproar, shouting, "Great is God Almighty of heaven and earth." 

Divine Majesty

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

DIVINE MAJESTY 

Acts 19:21-27

21 After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. "After I have been there," he said, "I must visit Rome also." 22 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer. 23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. 25 He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: "Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty."

NIV

With Timothy and Erastus going on to Macedonia, Paul stays in Ephesus, and that is where the trouble over money starts. Interestingly, the silversmith named Demetrius seems to be more concerned about his income from making items related to the goddess Artemis. Of course, we know it is a false god that has no ears to hear, eyes to see, or mouth to speak, but the point is the temple that was built to worship it, which brought in a high income for all the tradesmen in Ephesus. Demetrius was smart about stirring up the others, using both their income and Paul's declaration that man-made gods are no gods at all, and that Artemis will be discredited and robbed of her divine majesty. This type of story has not changed much over the years. There are plenty of man-made gods, or man-made idols, that people worship today. These idols do not have temples, as was the case in Ephesus, but there are other ways to worship idols. We could not name all the idols of this world, but the point is that we believers should not make anything in this world an idol. Although money was at the root of the problem in Ephesus, that may be the root of many problems in our culture as well. Perhaps money has become an idol in our culture, and we wonder if that idol has not crept into the church? Thinking of an idol as some divine majesty goes totally against the one true Divine Majestic God. There is nothing made by the hands of man that could ever have any divinity, although what man makes can be worshipped. This does not mean believers should divest themselves of all their money, for we all require a certain amount to provide for the necessities of this life. Jesus taught about money, and we know that the love of money is the root of all evil, as we know from the letter to Timothy. Let us not get distracted from the faith and look to the ways of the world for our success and supplies. There is nothing more important than to trust our Lord God Almighty for everything in this life and for the life to come. He is the only True Divine Majesty.