Twin City church of Christ Blog ‹ Twin City church of Christ

Reading: Acts 9:1-22

We have no record of Paul’s last moments. Most scholars believe that he was martyred, perhaps by Nero. Surely this did not catch him by surprise; he often speaks in his letters of the potentiality and likelihood of his martyrdom (Phil 1:20-25, 2:17; Col 1:24; 2 Cor 4:10-11, 16-5:9). It is a vivid reminder that these letters are not mere words to Paul, but an expression of a fully devoted heart. Just as he declares himself fully willing to “share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death”(Phil 3:10) and that he is “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church”(Col 1:24), so he seems to have done. The events of Paul’s life put a final validating stamp on all his teaching and letters. This man was fully sincere.

At the end of a year in Paul’s letters, it seems fitting to return to Paul’s initial encounter with Jesus. It is hard to overstate how disorienting it would be for him to realize that he is hearing the voice of the dead man whose followers he has been persecuting. “And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank”(Acts 9:9). When Ananias comes to him with a message from Jesus, it is ominous: “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name”(Acts 9:15-16). Jesus has a mission for Paul: to preach to the Gentiles (likely not Paul’s favorite group). As a result of this mission and his newfound faith, he will “(suffer) the loss of all things”(Phil 3:8). Yet he will fully fulfill Jesus’ will for him. He will carry Jesus’ name. He will reach the Gentiles. And he will suffer—patiently, faithfully, repeatedly—for his connection to Jesus.

There is great dignity in a life fully lived for Jesus. Paul was not perfect, but he faithfully served his master to the point of death. Paul reminds us that our past does not have to define us because God can rewrite our story. Paul reminds us that our personal comfort is not God’s priority (and shouldn’t be ours). Paul reminds us that true faith in Jesus may go to the grave confident that we will “attain to the resurrection from the dead”(Phil 3:11).

-----------
One Thing to Think About: What have I learned from this year in Paul’s letters?

One Thing to Pray For: The steadfast, earnest, passionate faith Paul has shown me

Posted in 2024 Reading Devotionals

Dec 26, 2024 - People

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

People

Reading: 2 Timothy 4:9-22

These are the last words Paul writes. They are littered with references to people. Paul is imprisoned and likely to stand again before Caesar. He wants Timothy there with him: “Do your best to come to me soon”(2 Tim 4:9). He is lonely and perhaps discouraged because some have left him. “For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry”(2 Tim 4:10-11). In his last moments, Paul wants these men he has worked with and known so well to be physically present with him.

Perhaps this is why it hurts Paul so deeply when some forsake him. “Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!”(2 Tim 4:14-16). He is thinking about Demas and Alexander (and Phygelus and Hermogenes, 2 Tim 1:15) who have harmed him. It stings him that “all who are in Asia turned away from me”(2 Tim 1:15). But he also takes courage from the fact that even alone, he is not alone: “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth”(2 Tim 4:17). All alone, his life in Caesar’s hands, Paul had Jesus beside him. This is his comfort.

What can we take from these last words? People matter. People have the power to hurt us or help us, to dishearten and encourage. Even when people cannot solve our problems, we still want them nearby in times of need. We have the power to do tremendous good or harm by the way we treat others, including affecting their desire to serve Jesus. Will we be the kind of people that others remember with regret, anger, and disappointment—or those who are close by, encouraging, suffering together, and blessing others?

-----------
One Thing to Think About: What people can I turn to in times of need?

One Thing to Pray For: The love to strengthen others in times of hardship

Posted in 2024 Reading Devotionals

Displaying 1 - 5 of 266

Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 … 52 53 54