Finding Solace: Daily Scriptural Devotions

TUESDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2024

TEXT: Acts 20:13-24

13. Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board; for so he had given orders, intending himself to go on foot.

14. And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene.

15. We sailed from there, and the next day came opposite Chios. The following day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. The next day we came to Miletus

16. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.

17. From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.

18. And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you;”

19. serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;

20. how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,

21. testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward out Lord Jesus Christ.

22. And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,

23. except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.

24. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

(New King James Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: AN URGENT TASK

God has entrusted unto every man one task or the other to accomplish. But some people do not even know or understand the task God has given them or their purpose on earth.

In today’s text, Paul showed that he understood very well the task God had given him and approached it with every sense of urgency, not lackadaisically.

While accomplishing that task, he explained to the elders in Ephesus how his life of humility and pain in the Lord’s service were proof of his faithfulness to God.

Led by the Holy Spirit, Paul was very willing to carry out his assignment, not minding what would happen to him. He believed that his life would amount to nothing if he failed to complete God’s task upon his life-preaching the gospel of God’s grace.

QUESTION: Do you have a grasp of God’s task upon your life and are you handling it with all urgency it deserves?

PRAYER: O Lord, help me to accomplish the task you have entrusted unto me, despite all the odds stacked against me, in Jesus name. Amen.