Daily Devotions – It’s All About You

Daily Devotions – It’s All About You

Image by J F from Pixabay

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

 

Acts 20:1-12 (NIV)
Through Macedonia and Greece
20 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye 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 some Jews had plotted 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 Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas
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.

 

What can you learn about Paul and the church in Troas from this lengthy meeting?

 

Lord, I fondly remember attending worship leader conferences where we spent many hours for multiple days worshiping and hearing Your Word. During those events, I couldn’t get enough and wanted to soak in as much as I could. And Your Spirit was strong and it was invigorating. Paul was planning on leaving the next day, so the people were glued to his every Word to soak in as much as they could before he left. He was passionate and they were open to Your Spirit and he preached through the night. The late hour and fumes from the oil-burning lamps that they used caused the young boy to get sleepy and fall to his death. After Paul restored the boy back to life it reinvigorated him to preach even more and they worshiped until early morning. Today we complain if the sermon is more than 15-20 minutes, if the music isn’t what we like, the temperature is not comfortable or if don’t like how things are done. None of those things matter. It’s not about us, it is about Worshiping You and hearing Your Word. When we sacrifice our time and comforts to come to church, focus on You and open our hearts, Your Spirit will be strong and we won’t even notice or care about the other things. Help us to be eager to come together as Your people and encourage each other in faith. Help us to desire worshiping You above all other things because You are Mighty God, worthy of praise. Let Your Spirit rise up in our church so that You can do mighty works in our hearts and lives and reinvigorate us to want more. Change our hearts, change our lives, and re-energize Your Church. In Your Majestic Name, Amen.