Daily devotion – Learning from the Apostle Paul.
We are drawing close to finishing the book of Acts shortly, and it has been an amazing journey as we have seen Christ ascending into Heaven, His disciples receiving the promise of the Father, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the birth of the Church on the Day of Pentecost. Peter was reconciled to Christ once again, preaching powerfully and seeing thousands of souls turn to Christ.
Persecution arose against the disciples, and we witnessed the deaths of James and Stephen, who died for their faith in Christ. Then a new face appears — his name is Saul — and God gets hold of this angry young Pharisee and transforms him into the Apostle Paul.
Most of the remainder of the book of Acts follows this key figure, Paul, and the dangers he endured, the journeys he undertook, taking the Gospel to the world and establishing churches everywhere.
This Sunday, we join Paul on his last journey — one by sea — as he heads for his final destination as chosen by God: Rome!
This enigmatic servant of Christ has taught me much as we have studied his life. His love for Christ, his devotion to serving his Lord, his courage, and his relentless drive have laid a path for all of us to follow, as he truly revealed what it means to be a servant of Jesus.
In Rome, Paul would finish his race and complete his mission. As soon as his life ended here on earth under the sword of Caesar Nero, Paul would finally be home — in the presence of the One who had been with him through this amazing life journey.
Our world and the enemy of our souls attempt to lure us away from serving the Lord and throw before us all sorts of material rewards and worldly applause. But all of these fade completely in comparison to that which awaits the faithful children of God once our life and mission have ended.
Paul knew this oh so well when he wrote:
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” — Php 3:8
Let us learn from this amazing example, Paul, and be reminded by the Apostle John of those worldly temptations that seek to lure us away:
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” — 1Jn 2:15
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” — 1Jn 2:16
“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” — 1Jn 2:17
May we therefore run our own race with the same eternal perspective as Paul — holding loosely the things of this world while clinging tightly to Christ. One day our journey too will end, and all that will matter is that we loved Him, followed Him faithfully, and finished the work He gave us to do.
Until that glorious day, may we press on with courage, humility, and unwavering devotion to our King, knowing that our true home is not here, but with Jesus forever.