BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.” Acts 28:30,31 NLT

With these words, the Book of Acts comes to a close. We see this book begins with the proclamation of Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The Book of Acts reveals how that prediction became true. The gospel message begins in Jerusalem, it spreads to other regions through the apostles and others when the church is scattered after the death of Stephen. We Paul and Barnabas and then Paul and Silas on missionary journeys to various regions and then concluding with Paul preaching for two years in Rome.

The gospel spread, but the cost and the trials that unfold challenged the work at every turn. The final section of the Book of Acts focuses on Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem, his imprisonment and the eventual trip to Rome under guard as a prisoner. He endured hardship, threats on his life, storms, and trials.

Soon after the initial uproar over Paul in Jerusalem, the Lord appeared to him, “The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” (Acts 23:11)

I am confident that Paul could not have anticipated the years and the events that would transpire before the words of the Lord came true. In the midst of all that took place, we are reminded of the words of the Lord to Ananias at the time of Paul’s conversion, “This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.” (Acts 9:15)

It was in these final chapters that we read of Paul proclaiming the gospel before religious and political leaders while he was a prisoner.

As we reflect on these events we can observe some important lessons about the fulfillment of the Lord’s plan. It often takes longer than we anticipate. What we believe will happen in the near term may be the Lord’s long-term plan. The challenges we encounter may be far greater than what we would anticipate or believe we can endure. This requires keeping our eyes on the Lord and seeing Him work at each step, at each juncture of the journey we find ourselves on. Finally, we can be confident that which the Lord has determined to happen will take place and His plan will be fulfilled and purposes will not be thwarted.

Most of us will not be like Paul. We won’t have the Lord personally appearing to us telling us about His plan for our life. But we can live each day with the confidence that as we place our trust in the Lord He will fulfill His good purpose for our life. In the process, we will discover all that entails.

Remember Paul’s words to the Philippians, “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “How can I carry them to the land you swore to give their ancestors? Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people? They keep whining to me, saying, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!” Numbers 11:12-15 NLT

When I read these verses I see a leader at the breaking point. Moses has a great task and a great responsibility before him. We see the Lord had promised Moses at another time when he was overwhelmed by the task he was called to, “My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)

In the midst of the stress of life, it is easy to feel that it is all up to us. That it is our strength, our wisdom, our resources that need to solve all problems. This point in the story of the trip to the promised land the people are complaining about having no meat and only manna to eat. The people are looking to Moses and Moses is looking to himself.

Moses approaches the problem with natural thinking, “Even if we butchered all our flocks and herds, would that satisfy them? Even if we caught all the fish in the sea, would that be enough?” (Numbers 11:22 NLT) The Lord was about to reveal Himself as the God of supernatural supply.

The Lord responds to Moses’ cry in two ways. First, the Lord instructs Moses to have other men share the leadership load so he doesn’t feel alone. The Lord does this by placing His Spirit on 70 elders, who serve with Moses in a position of spiritual authority. Second, the Lord brings quail into the camp that swarm three feet off the ground for miles around God’s people.

In the next account, we see spies sent to scout out the promised land. The twelve spies are impressed with the richness of the land but intimidated by the inhabitants. Joshua and Caleb focused on what God was able to do and said, “We can certainly conquer it.” (Numbers 13:30) The others complained, “All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!” (Numbers 13:32,33 NLT)

The masses quickly predicted and prepared for their demise and felt the best option was to return to Eygpt. The Lord’s judgment quickly gets their attention, but they don’t really learn their lesson. Paul would reflect back on this time when he wrote a letter to the Corinthians, “And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.” (1 Corinthians 10:10)

It is interesting to see this played out during Jesus’ ministry with the feeding of the 5,000. Jesus tells His disciples to give the people something to eat and they report, “we only have five loaves and two fish.” Once again they look to their own devices and resources to meet a supernatural need. The Lord blesses and then multiplies the loaves and fish so the need is more than met.

We can say “God-size challenges require trusting the Lord for supernatural supply.” But that would allow us to believe it is up to us at times and up to God at others. Proverbs challenges us, “in all your ways acknowledge Him…” (Proverbs 3:6)

When the task looks impossible, when what is needed is woefully lacking, remember that there is a God we serve and can call on, who is unlimited in what He can do and what He can supply.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “And now I am bound by the Spirit^[f] to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.” Acts 20:22,23 NLT

From the time of his conversion to his death, Paul the Apostle faced opposition and persecution for his faith. As the  country song says he had to know “when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em.” In other words, when to run, when to escape and when to face with courage and resolve that which he knew was going to bring suffering.

In his early Christian life, he escaped a city through being let down the wall of the city in a basket. In Ephesus when a riot was breaking out, his companions kept Paul from going into the city. In a variety of situations, Paul followed the direction of the Holy Spirit and the help of companions.

During a pivotal time in his life, he was “bound” or compelled the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem.The events that would take place, though in the natural seemed ill-advised, would comprise about a third of the Book of Acts.

After his final time with the Ephesian elders, Paul is in Caesarea when a prophet warns Paul,  ^“He came over, took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, “The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.’”  (Acts 21:11 NLT)

This caused great fear for Paul’s friends, but didn’t faze Paul, but confirmed what he already knew in his heart. Paul’s response was, “You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13 NLT)

This is similar to the words Paul spoke to the Elders at Ephesus, “…my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” (Acts 20:24 NLT)

Paul was a “man on a mission” even though he didn’t know all that would entail. The ensuing years would be years of persecution, trial, and imprisonment. He would have the opportunity to “tell his story” to crowds, kings and religious leaders. He would need to continue to exercise wisdom and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

It would be while Paul was in a prison in Rome that he would write seven of his letters that are part of our New Testament.

We would like to think that the Lord’s will and direction is to keep us and protect us from all harm. Often that does happen. However, there are times when the Lord will use times of trial and hardship for his will to be accomplished and for the gospel and his kingdom to be advanced. At those times we can be confident of the courage and resolve to be “faithful even to death.”