Daily Reading
Scripture
30 For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense.[a] He welcomed all who visited him, 31 boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him. (Acts 28:30-31)
Observation
Paul was arrested, beaten, thrown in prison, left for dead, shipwrecked, bitten by a snake, and more, all while he was trying to spread the Good News about Jesus. He spent YEARS doing this. Then, for what would seem to us to be the END of it all, Paul is shipped off to Rome to be tried. What happens there? He spends two years in his own appartments and got to teach about Jesus without ANY opposition! It seemed like the end of his mission work, but really it was the REST that he so desparately needed!
Application
God’s way of doing things does not follow our rational, well-thought out plans. We can sit and rehash our circumstances over and over again and come up with a logical conclusion, but when our steps are ordered by God, the logical conclusion does not always happen. Because we cannot see what is in front and we cannot change what is in the past, the only thing we can do is “know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. . . learn the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” (Phil 4:12) I think this was the secret to Paul’s success.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I want so bad to live with the kind of faith Paul had. I want to live each day. Truly LIVE each day. Teach me to live for YOU no matter what my circumstance. I know that the secret to peace is to have a daily intimate love relationship with You. All else is chaff.
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I’m halfway there. I know how to live on a full stomach.