Daily Devotion

Today’s Bible reading is Acts chapter 21

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

Years earlier Paul left Jerusalem to persecute Christians, but on the Damascus road he encountered Christ and his life was forever changed. Paul returned to Jerusalem as the great missionary of the early church. In many ways Paul was a controversial figure. Followers of Christ loved him and received him, but those who rejected the Gospel hated Paul. Before going to Jerusalem many Spirit filled believers warned Paul that suffering awaited him, but Paul was determined to go. He said, “I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” At Jerusalem Paul was arrested and nearly beaten to death. The great missionary Paul is an example of how to suffer faithfully. After facing an angry mob and badly beaten, Paul only wanted to speak of Jesus. His resolve was to glorify Jesus Christ. We should never evaluate the success of our ministry by human standards. The great missionary Paul had been faithful but no warm welcome awaited him upon his return to Jerusalem. Homecoming for Paul would be when God called him home to glory.

Prayer: “Dear Jesus, may we care more about our character than our comfort. Give us the resolve to do your will like that of the Apostle Paul, even in the face of danger.”

Randy J. McPheron