Wednesday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 20
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.
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.
Commentary:
20:22–23 Constrained (Gk. deō, “to bind, tie, constrain”) indicates that the Holy Spirit was giving Paul an exceptionally strong sense of compulsion that he had to go quickly and directly to Jerusalem, even though he knew that imprisonment and afflictions awaited him there. Paul must have reflected on the similarities between his present journey to Jerusalem and Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem where he was to die (Matt. 16:21; 20:18; Mark 10:32–33; Luke 9:51, 53; 18:31–33), and wondered if he also would end his life there (see Acts 20:24). the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city. Such testimony probably came to Paul through both Christian prophets (cf. 21:11) and direct revelation from the Holy Spirit.
20:24 Paul often expressed his willingness to suffer for Christ (2 Cor. 4:7–12; 6:4–10; 12:9–10; Phil. 1:20–21; 2:17; 3:8; Col. 1:24). In 2 Tim. 4:7 he used the same expression of finishing his course (or “race,” Gk. dromos).
20:24 Paul often expressed his willingness to suffer for Christ (2 Cor. 4:7–12; 6:4–10; 12:9–10; Phil. 1:20–21; 2:17; 3:8; Col. 1:24). In 2 Tim. 4:7 he used the same expression of finishing his course (or “race,” Gk. dromos).
Questions:
- In verse 22, Paul says he is "bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead." Wow...he opts for obedience instead of safety. Not only is the Holy Spirit telling him where to go, he's also telling him it's going to hurt. But Paul still goes! He says, "It's worth it!" Paul isn't the only one God has plans for. He has plans for you, too. You have a course assigned to you by God. What race are you running? Are you living for God's Kingdom or your own? How focused are you on seeking out God's plan and purpose for your life?
- Paul also says that his life "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." That may seem radical to some, but it should be the heart of every believer! We should LIVE for the gospel and telling people about Jesus. Is that the focus of your life? Is it obvious to others? How would God answer that question about you?
Prayer Topics:
- That you would live for His Kingdom.
- That your life would be about the gospel.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
6. Is the Bible God’s Word? Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead and said the Old Testament was God’s Word and gave authority to the Apostles to write the words of the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that all the words of the Bible are God’s Word.
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
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