TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 7:57-8:3; Philippians 3:1-1
As for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. - Philippians 3:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
Are we living “successful” lives? Writer and cultural critic Francis Schaeffer once answered: “Only one thing will determine that—whether this day I'm where the Lord of lords and King of kings wants me to be. To win as many as I can, to help strengthen the hands of those who fight unbelief in the historical setting in which they are placed, to know the reality of ”˜the Lord is my song,' and to be committed to the Holy Spirit—that is what I wish I could know to be the reality of each day as it closes.”

Paul would say “Amen!” to this . . . but it took some doing for God to bring him to that point. Our study this month is titled, “Paul: A Life of Purpose That Changed the World,” but before he met Christ his life was filled with the wrong purposes. He was born in Tarsus, a city northwest of Israel, and raised in a Jewish family that probably ran a successful tentmaking business. Perhaps named after King Saul, an illustrious fellow Benjamite, he was theologically trained under the rabbi Gamaliel and became a zealous Pharisee. As such, he thoroughly approved of Stephen's execution, and afterwards became the Sanhedrin's “enforcer,” actively persecuting the early church. Since the persecution helped spread the church beyond Jerusalem and toward fulfilling the Great Commission, this was actually Paul's unwitting first contribution to world missions!

Paul later said he had been a “blasphemer” and the “worst of sinners” (see 1 Tim. 1:12-16) and used his background to argue against legalism. To have “confidence in the flesh” is to trust in the wrong road to salvation and dishonor God's grace. He counted his past religious pedigree as a total “loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:.

Our devotions this month will progress mostly in chronological order, interweaving historical narratives and readings from Paul's lettes. We'll begin with the story of his spiritual rebirth, taking four days to examine how God changed him. This will help set the stage as we study this unlikely hero whom God set apart to preach the gospel (Gal. 1:13-16).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What were you before God broke through your darkness? Where would you be today if He had not reached out to you? What might you have become without His grace and love in your life? Give praise and thanks for the answers to these questions. Doing so will help prepare your heart for this month's study. Pray as well that as we examine the life of the apostle Paul, God will transform your thoughts, words, and actions in ways that glorify Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 9:1-19
Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? - Acts 9:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratories in Tennessee believe spinach may help cure some forms of blindness. When they extract certain proteins from this deep green vegetable and add them to retinal nerve cells, tests indicate the cells react to light in ways that could give formerly blind people black-and-white vision. As part of photosynthesis, these spinach proteins send an electrical impulse in response to light, which is what is needed for sight as well.

To heal Paul from his temporary blindness, God didn't use spinach; instead, He sent His servant Ananias not only with healing but also with a prophetic message.

How did all this come about? Paul decided to take his crusade against Christians 150 miles away to Damascus, and was on his way there when Christ appeared to him personally. He asked Paul, “Why do you persecute me?” (v. 4). Paul knew from the Pentateuch that he was experiencing the glory of God, but it stunned and confused him to find Jesus speaking to him. Hadn't He started the heresy that Paul was intent on stamping out? The Lord gave him a few days as a blind man to think it over and absorb the fact that the truth was 180 degrees different from what he had been pursuing.

When Ananias received his assignment, he must have been stunned and confused as well. What—go do a healing miracle for Christian Enemy #1? He expressed his doubts honestly in prayer, but ultimately he obeyed and did what the Lord said. He visited Paul, lifted the physical blindness as Christ had removed the spiritual blindness, and prophesied that this persecutor would become God's “chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel” (v. 15). Paul was also filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized (v. 18).

Paul came to take prisoners, but God took him prisoner. He came in bondage, but God set him free. He came to cause suffering, but joined the ranks of the sufferers. He believed in his own righteousness and worthiness, but found instead the righteousness and worthiness of Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Easter Sunday may be past already, but in light of Paul's remarkable testimony, re-reading one of the Passion narratives would be a timely activity. Gospel passages to choose include Matthew 26-28; Mark 14-16; Luke 22-24; or John 18-20. Remember that the crucified and risen Christ you find here is exactly the same Christ who met Paul on the Damascus road. And He's exactly the same Christ whom you can trust, follow, and obey today!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 21:27-22:22
God . . . has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. - Acts 22:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
Donnybrook has been defined as “a free-for-all or melee; a brawl that is out of control; an uproarious argument.” This word originated from the Donnybrook Fair near Dublin, Ireland, held annually from 1204-1867. The fair was famous for its fights, bloodshed, and general mayhem and violence.

In today's reading, Paul landed squarely in the middle of a donnybrook, but he didn't let it stop him from sharing the gospel through his testimony. By this time he was a veteran evangelist and church planter and had just returned from his third extended missions journey. Acting on advice from the Jerusalem church leaders and to quiet some critical gossip, he joined several believers in special purification rites at the temple. When his enemies spotted him there, however, they roused a mob and started a riot. Roman troops swooped in to keep the peace, but since they could not understand why Paul was in trouble they just decided to cart him off to prison.

On the way, the Apostle asked to address the crowd, and the soldiers allowed him to do so from the barracks steps. He first focused on his common background with his listeners, including a good Jewish upbringing, education, and religious zeal. Then he narrated his transforming encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. Though many years had passed, he told it much as Luke had earlier in Acts. He emphasized that Ananias, like his attackers, had been a devout observer of the Law and skeptical of Paul's change of heart before God spoke to him.

To the Jews, the elements of power in Paul's story would have signified its truth. His rhetorical strategy in verses 19-20 is summarized by F. F. Bruce: “He seems to mean: They [Jews] know how hostile I was to you and your people [Christians]; they will therefore understand that my change of heart must have been the result of the most convincing proof, and so they will take my testimony seriously.” Alas, they did not. When Paul mentioned that he was sent to the Gentiles, pride and prejudice reignited the crowd and the soldiers had to whisk him away again.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Sharing our testimony under calm, friendly conditions can be hard enough. How about when faced with an angry mob and the threat of imminent bodily harm? Would we have the courage to do what Paul did? Or would we be thinking of all possible ways to get out of there and save our skins?

Remembering that God is our true source of courage, pray today for renewed boldness and love in your evangelistic efforts. Pray that He will conquer our fears, pride, and any other barriers we have to sharing our faith with others.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 26
I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light. - Acts 26:17–18
TODAY IN THE WORD
In Sumerian mythology, the hero Gilgamesh went to the island of Dilmun in search of eternal life. In 1953, archaeologist T. Geoffrey Bibby discovered the historical reality. Dilmun turned out to be a 4,000-year-old city buried under the current city of Manama, the capital of Bahrain, an island state off the coast of Saudi Arabia. Dilmun had been a rich, independent trading center strategically located between the Middle East and India. Despite these advantages, it still could not offer eternal life.

In order to truly find eternal life, there is only one Way—Jesus Christ. At this point, Paul was still in prison on vague charges stemming from the incident we read about yesterday. A new governor, Festus, had just arrived and was trying to figure out what to do with his mysterious prisoner. He scheduled a special hearing so King Agrippa and Queen Bernice could hear the man and so he himself could try to understand enough to write a coherent report to Rome.

The circumstances were different—a royal court instead of barracks steps—but one thing hadn't changed: Paul's enthusiasm to seize any and all opportunities to share the gospel. For the occasion, his style was more formal, but this testimony follows a similar arc that we saw yesterday. Because Agrippa understood Jewish culture, Paul described his background as a model Jew, explained how through the prophets God had promised the Messiah, and again was painfully honest about his early, hate-filled opposition to Christ.

He told his dramatic Damascus road experience, but telescoped the story in order to dwell more on the change itself (vv. 16-18). His life of ministry proved his personal integrity, as he emphasized his obedience, consistency in life and message, and dependence on God. The Resurrection was the stumbling block to his listeners, though—Festus found it insane and Agrippa could not accept the concept.

Two powerful testimonies . . . and yet not a single convert. We can take encouragement from this—we don't measure success through the number of converts but from our faithful willingness to share the gospel.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Having seen several examples of Paul's testimony, given in various circumstances to various audiences, begin crafting a version of your own personal testimony. Choose an audience—perhaps a neighbor, co-worker, or extended family member—and consider how to present the gospel and the way you came to faith in a way that this person can understand clearly and might find attractive. Work on your testimony whenever you can, and later this month share it with the person you chose.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 9:20-31; 11:19-30
He was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. - Acts 11:23
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the apostle John's account of the calling of the first disciples, the supporting role played by Andrew is notable. Responding to John the Baptist's “Lamb of God” announcement, Andrew and John followed Jesus and spent the day with Him. “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ”˜We have found the Messiah' (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.” Jesus, of course, renamed Simon as “Peter,” and Peter became the leader of the Twelve (see John 1:35-42).

Like Andrew, Barnabas played a key supporting role by encouraging Paul in his early ministry. Following his conversion, Paul appears to have spent about three years (prior to the events in 9:26) in or around Damascus, including a trip to nearby Arabia (Gal. 1:17). These years were a “ministry internship,” the beginning of his calling and career as a preacher and evangelist. From the start, he acted boldly, entering the synagogue to proclaim and defend what he had until recently believed a heresy. Despite the fact that his about-face must have been personally embarrassing, he was eager to argue that Jesus was the Messiah. His ministry aroused both belief and opposition, a pattern that would continue throughout his life.

Barnabas then entered the picture and made a key introduction of Paul to Peter and James in Jerusalem (Gal. 1:18-19). While others were understandably skeptical, he vouched for the genuineness of Paul's testimony and attested to his ministry in Damascus. We don't know exactly how Barnabas gained confidence in Paul's testimony and character, but what he did was the kind of purposeful encouragement that can be a model for us all. Appropriately, his name means “son of encouragement” (4:36-37).

When the first openly cross-cultural missionaries preached to Greeks in Antioch (11:20-21), Jerusalem sent the open-minded Barnabas to check it out. He helped the work develop and personally recruited Paul to use his gifts to help plant a church there. As an encourager, he wanted to see Paul maximize his gifts for God's kingdom and did everything he could to bring it about.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
How can you imitate the example of Barnabas? Today, encourage at least one fellow believer in faith and service. Be intentional through a phone call, e-mail, or note. Also be specific, perhaps by giving the person an example of how you are grateful for their service in your church, or by sharing a specific Bible verse or attribute of God with them, or by serving them in a concrete way. Encouragement comes in many shapes and sizes!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 13
Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. - Acts 13:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, the American government, fearing an invasion of Alaska, built a supply road all the way to the territory. The Alaska Highway ran through the Canadian Rockies and Yukon Territory, some of the roughest and most remote land on the continent. Yet in only about six months an enormous force of 16,000 engineers, surveyors, soldiers, and construction workers accomplished the job, carving a 1,422-mile-highway out of the wilderness.

This incredible engineering feat began with a single shovelful of dirt, just as any long journey must begin with a single step. That's how Paul's first missions trip began—with a single step. A step forward to say, “Yes, Lord.” He had served on the leadership team in Antioch, which may be where he met Luke (tradition says Luke was from Antioch). The time had come for the church there to take its own next step in obeying the Great Commission, so at the right time the Holy Spirit moved and called Paul and Barnabas specifically to go.

One key point here is the community context for missions and purpose. Barnabas and Paul didn't take a strategy to the church and ask them to rubber-stamp it. Rather, God revealed His will to the church during a time of worship and fasting (v. 2). Fasting is done in order to hear God's voice more clearly, and He honored that desire. By laying hands on the two missionaries, the church identified with them, taking corporate responsibility for sending them out. Paul and Barnabas found their purpose in the context of the body of Christ. If you're wondering about your own purpose, this would be an excellent place to start.

A second key point to notice is the historic shift in ministry focus from Jews to Gentiles (vv. 45-48). By quoting Isaiah 49:6 in verse 47, Paul showed an awareness that God's love is for all peoples as well as of his own specific calling to preach to the Gentiles. The good news must be proclaimed “first for the Jew,” but must just as surely be shared and declared globally (Rom. 1:16-17).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Are you familiar with the missionaries your church supports? How are missionaries chosen and commissioned? In what ways are they accountable to your church for reporting back about their ministry? Who in your church stays in touch with and prays for these missionaries?

If you haven't been personally involved, prayerfully consider if God leads you to take steps to get to know these missionaries better, whether through serving on the missions committee, writing letters, or faithfully praying for their work.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 14
They . . . reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. - Acts 14:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
A technology news service recently reported that religious spam is on the rise. Spam, unsolicited junk or even fraudulent e-mail, is a growing social irritant and is actually illegal. But religious spam is exempt from spam laws because it seeks no economic payoff. One such e-mail, entitled “Only believe,” invites people to receive Christ and includes a version of the “sinner's prayer.”

Despite the good motive behind religious spam, such “evangelism” is missing something at the heart of Paul's approach: personal relationships and contact. We see that whenever Paul could, he ministered in person; when he couldn't, he sent a friend who often brought a letter from him. The events of Barnabas and Paul's first missionary journey set this tone and show us an even more important key to missions—the power of God. Yesterday, we read about a dramatic encounter with a sorcerer and the believing response of the Roman proconsul. Today we find three examples of the power of God at work in the spread of the gospel.

First, both Gentiles and Jews believed in Jesus (v. 1). When Barnabas and Paul reported back to the church in Antioch, they emphasized all that God had done, especially opening the door of faith for the Gentiles (v. 27). Converts were won and churches were planted.

Second, their evangelism aroused opposition and brought on hardship, just as Jesus had said it would (v. 22; Luke 21:12). And as with Jesus, the enemies could find no just or legal basis for persecution, so they poisoned minds and incited mob action. Far from stopping God, though, their actions led to the healing (possibly even resurrection) of Paul, who was left for dead after being stoned.

And that is the third point—God enabled His missionaries to work miraculous signs and wonders, the purpose of which was to bring people to faith. Through them, God “confirmed the message of his grace” (v. 3). Although the healing of a lame man in Lystra initially led to a cross-cultural misunderstanding, Paul and Barnabas managed to use creation and providence as a bridge from this mistake and local tradition to God's truth (vv. 15-17).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As anyone who's ever served in missions can tell you, encouragement is incredibly important. If there are missionaries whom you support personally, send them an e-mail or letter.

Be sure to share prayer requests of your own, remembering that the sending relationship should be a two-way street. If you're not sure to whom to write, choose someone from your church's missions bulletin board, or ask a church leader if there's one missionary in particular who might be encouraged by a special note.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 15:1-35
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him. - Romans 10:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
One Sabbath day, Jesus and His disciples walked through the fields. His hungry followers picked grain to eat and were immediately criticized by the Pharisees: “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” Jesus refuted the charge with two examples from Scripture focusing on the true purpose of the Sabbath, then asserted His authority as “Lord of the Sabbath” to rebuke them for their legalism. The Pharisees stood condemned for following the letter but not the spirit of the Law (Matt. 12:1-8).

Legalism and freedom in Christ were core themes in Paul's ministry, especially in the early days of taking the gospel to the Gentiles. He had already preached that Christ justified where the Law could not (13:38-39), but church policy needed to catch up. When Judaizers appeared in Antioch to teach the Mosaic Law, a formal council was called in Jerusalem for decisions and clarifications regarding doctrine and practice. What was the role of the Law?

The apostle Peter gave the key speech, in essence telling the council that God had already revealed His will on this matter. He reminded them of his vision and experience with Cornelius and the irrefutable evidence that God had poured out His Holy Spirit on Gentile believers. If the gospel is all about faith and grace, why would anyone want to return to the inadequacy of the Law (vv. 9-11)? Barnabas and Paul followed up with an account of their recent journey.

The leaders recognized that both Scripture and experience supported extending the gospel to Gentiles (v. 14). James even quoted Old Testament prophecy to prove that God has always had a global vision. Circumcision and keeping the Law were rejected as unnecessary for salvation. Still, four stipulations were laid down, three of which were cultural and temporary. These food prohibitions were probably designed to ease social interaction between Jewish and Gentile Christians. Cultural sensitivity was also shown in how this was communicated to the affected churches—in a simply written letter delivered by a racially mixed group of messengers.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Yesterday, we recommended that you write a personal letter. Today, why not read a personal letter from Paul? The epistle to Philemon, written about 60 A.D., while Paul himself was imprisoned, requests freedom for an escaped slave (and close friend of Paul's) who came to faith in Christ after his escape. As we study the heady theological topics of legalism and freedom today and tomorrow, it would also be good to keep in mind what the Apostle had to say about freedom in the context of everyday life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Galatians 5
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. - Galatians 5:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 2002, a panel of one hundred authors from more than fifty countries was asked by the Nobel Institute in Norway to name the ten works of fiction they considered the “best and most central works in world literature.” The winner was the seventeenth- century Spanish masterpiece Don Quixote, by Miguel Cervantes, which garnered 50 percent more votes than any other book nominated. The Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky also fared well, with four books appearing in the top 100.

In the category of nonfiction, Paul's thirteen books (actually letters) would surely make the list of the most influential literary works in history. Galatians was the first epistle he penned, likely about 49 A.D., shortly after his first missionary journey and addressed to many of the cities they visited. This was around the same time as the Jerusalem council, so the letter naturally reflects the themes of legalism and freedom (cf. Gal. 2:11-21).

Paul urged the Galatian believers not to live under legalism. The Law had been a yoke no one could bear, and now that Christ had come, its time was done. To continue living by it would be to disrespect the salvation Christ won—Paul used strong phrases such as “alienated from Christ” and “fallen away from grace” to describe this wrong choice (v. 4).

God's purpose for believers is freedom in Christ (v. 1). But notice that freedom is not an American stereotype—a lone rebel figure marching to his own drumbeat. Instead, freedom is “faith expressing itself through love” (v. 6). It is service rather than self-indulgence (v. 13). It is love for our neighbor (v. 14). It is cultivating and expressing godly qualities such as joy, peace, patience, and self-control (vv. 22-23). It is living in the strength and wisdom of the Holy Spirit (v. 24).

In short, true freedom is found only in obedience to God. Only here can we fulfill our God-given purposes. If we're searching elsewhere, we're using the wrong map and compass! This paradox of freedom-in-submission is well captured in Psalm 119:32: “I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free” (cf. 1 Cor. 9:19).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
To meditate on the theme of Christian freedom, make a two-column list. On the left, write images of freedom from popular culture, art, or entertainment—for example, a cowboy on a prairie, Braveheart, or going on vacation. On the right, list the characteristics of freedom as found in today's reading. What are the similarities or differences?

Now see if you can write a definition of freedom based on the right-hand column. Is it different from what you previously thought?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 15:36-16:5
Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. - Philippians 2:22
TODAY IN THE WORD
When fifteen-year-old pitcher Joe Nuxhall took the mound for the Cincinnati Reds on a June day in 1944, he became the youngest player in baseball history. Many athletes had been drafted for the war, which is why a scout had offered the junior-high student a contract. Joe was supposed to play on a minor league team and only practice with the Reds. But on this particular day the Reds' pitching staff was being hammered, and Nuxhall was one of the few pitchers left on their bench. Though he had a horrible outing that day, eventually he enjoyed a solid big league career that spanned sixteen seasons and two all-star teams.

Timothy is also known as a young man who made a big splash. Paul had probably met him in his hometown of Lystra on the first missionary journey. When the ministry partnership with Barnabas ended due to a personnel disagreement, Barnabas took John Mark and went in one direction, while Paul formed another ministry team and headed out on his second missionary journey (50-52 A.D.).

Paul would enjoy a rich and enduring mentoring relationship and friendship with Timothy, who joined his team early on this second trip, when Timothy was probably still a teenager. He was the son of racially and religiously mixed parents. His father was a pagan Greek, while his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois were sincere Jewish Christians (cf. 2 Tim. 1:5). Paul became Timothy's spiritual father, calling him “my true son in the faith” and “my son whom I love” and holding him up as an example of Christlike love and service (1 Tim. 1:2; 1 Cor. 4:17; Phil. 2:19-22).

Given Paul's strident opposition to legalism, you may be surprised to read that he had Timothy circumcised. Apparently he did this out of simple expediency, to make sure that despite Timothy's family background he would have no trouble ministering among Jews. At another time, he refused to have Titus circumcised because the purity of the gospel was at stake (see Gal. 2:3-5). Sometimes context determines the right thing to do (cf. Gal. 5:6; 1 Cor. 7:19).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Take some time near the end of your devotions today to reflect on the lessons you've learned so far in this month's study. If Paul lived “a life filled with purpose,” what have you discovered about the nature of those purposes and the effects of that filling? Have you identified any specific ways in which you would like to imitate Paul? If you keep a spiritual diary or journal, write down your reflections, perhaps in the form of a prayer.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 4
Set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. - 1 Timothy 4:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
Last November, Dutch scientists created the largest digital panoramic photo in the world. They began by programming a camera to take 600 individual pictures of their city, Delft. Then they fed the results into five PCs that worked over three days to stitch the photos together into a seamless whole. The result was a single 2.5 billion-pixel panorama of the Delft skyline.

Talk about “seeing the big picture”! In today's reading, Paul wanted to give Timothy the “big picture” of what the Christian life is all about. We've skipped forward in time to about 65 A.D. Timothy, then in his 30s, was a pastor in the church at Ephesus. Paul had seen his young protégé grow from a godly teenager into a gifted church leader, and they logged many ministry miles together. Within this friendship and their shared passion for Christ, Paul wrote as a mentor to encourage Timothy and summarize the key points of a life well-lived.

One key was the necessity of truth. We cannot live a purpose-filled life without it! Timothy was to live out the truth and guard doctrinal purity against, for example, false teaching that failed to accept thankfully the blessings of God's creation (vv. 4-5). This extended beyond his individual life, for as a minister he was to exercise his gift of preaching and teaching in order to serve and edify the church. Another key was the necessity of training. Godliness doesn't just happen—one must pursue it in the same way an athlete trains to win a gold medal. Timothy was in fact commanded to set the pace, serving as an example for the other believers (v. 12). As a leader, he lived in a glass house, which meant that his actions would be seen by all. A final key was the necessity of holding on to hope. As believers, our trust is in a living God who is the Savior of the world. Living in this hope takes courage—we must “fight the good fight of faith” (6:12).

If you persevere in these God-given purposes, Paul told his friend, “you will save both yourself and your hearers” (v. 16).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Storing the treasure of God's Word in your heart is always a wise application (Ps. 119:93). Today, make it your goal to memorize two verses—any two verses you choose—from 1 Timothy 4. Verses 4-5 might be a good choice to build up our thankful hearts, or verse 8 as an exhortation to godliness, or verse 10 as an encouragement to hope in the Lord. If you're feeling ambitious, you could memorize this entire short chapter during the coming week or month.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 16:6-15
Come over to Macedonia and help us. - Acts 16:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
On February 25, 1870, Hiram Revels became the first African American to serve as a U.S. Senator. Revels spent most of his life as an itinerant preacher, and took leadership roles in politics and education. After the Civil War, Mississippi elected him to serve out the unexpired term of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. On the day of his swearing in, said one newspaper, “there was not an inch of standing or sitting room in the galleries, so densely were they packed.”

On that day, Hiram Revels crossed racial boundaries and made history. In today's reading, the apostle Paul did the same, taking the gospel to Europe for the first time in recorded history. We've returned to the time of his second missionary journey, but things had not been going well. The Spirit had been blocking their path in Asia. Paul, Timothy, and Silas knew that God must have something special planned, and they expressed an attitude of expectant readiness. Then God spoke, giving Paul a vision of a man saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (v. 9). Luke joined them, and the group made their historic entry into Europe.

Traveling on the nearly 500-mile-long Via Egnatia between the two continents, they arrived in Philippi, one of four districts of Macedonia. There must have been fewer than ten Jewish males in the city, for there was no synagogue there. Instead, the missionaries met a group of women at a place of prayer outside the city. Lydia, a businesswoman, and her household believed and were baptized. She had been a worshiper of the true God already, and when the gospel arrived, He opened her heart to understand and respond immediately. She at once offered Paul and his friends hospitality.

Lydia's gracious response remains an instructive model for how we should practice hospitality, particularly toward those in ministry. This is not an onerous task, but something that should bring them encouragement and us great joy (see 1 Peter 4:9).

With regard to our year's theme of purpose, we can meditate on Paul's passion for evangelism, his sensitivity to the Spirit's leading, and the fact that God is always at work around and ahead of us.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
You may not have been called to the same ministry as the apostle Paul, but it's clear from our reading that he had many partners in ministry with different gifts, all working together to glorify God. Perhaps, like Lydia, you can extend hospitality to missionaries who visit or to your pastor and his family through sharing a meal together. This doesn't have to be grand, stressful entertaining, but a way of meeting needs and supporting God's work.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 16:16-40
Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. - Acts 16:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
Jean S. Munro, a medical missionary in Zaire, noticed that her water had been tasting bitter. Her water supply, commonly enough in that area, was collected rainwater kept in a sealed storage tank. When her dog and cat refused to drink it and the stench from her tap became overpowering, she asked a colleague to check it out. When the tank was unsealed, the decomposing body of a large, poisonous snake was found.

What had happened? A local witch doctor, angered at losing influence, had by some devilry put the dead snake inside the tank. When its poison sacs burst, he thought that the missionary would surely die, proving his power. But Munro didn't die . . . God miraculously saved her from the deadly venom in her drinking water! God delights to exercise His power on behalf of His people. He did so in today's reading as well, powerfully rescuing His servants from a Philippian jail.

What was the crime of Paul and Silas? They cast a demon out of a slave-girl. It was referred to as a “python spirit,” associated with fortune telling. Why did she cry out a testimonial to Paul and the gospel (v. 17)? It seems that proximity sometimes causes some demons to confess the truth (see Luke 8:28; James 2:19). At any rate, this girl brought in a tidy income for her owners, so Paul's action was a direct hit in their pocketbook. They had the two missionaries beaten and thrown into prison.

Paul and Silas responded with joy despite their circumstances (cf. Rom. 8:28). They praised the Lord, praying and singing hymns. When Paul later wrote to the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4), they knew he really did mean always! Since the other prisoners listened, this was also evangelism. After God sent an earthquake to free them, Paul and Silas didn't miss a beat, sharing the gospel with the warden and his family. When they accepted the gospel, it's no surprise to find them also “filled with joy” (v. 34)!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you have a joyful heart? Let's put it another way: would you praise the Lord and sing hymns if you found yourself unjustly thrown into prison today? Paul later wrote to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” The secret lies in turning all our anxieties over to the Lord in prayer. If we do that, our hearts will be guarded from worry by the ocean-deep peace of Christ, and we'll be liberated to trust and joy (Phil. 4:4-7)!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-5:11
You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. - 1 Thessalonians 5:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
When parents leave their children with a babysitter, behavior is often affected by how soon the parents will return. If Mom and Dad have just left, the kids might take their chances and disobey the sitter's instructions or try to persuade her to let them do something the parents wouldn't allow. But if Mom and Dad's car might pull into the driveway at any moment, the kids are more likely to be on their very best behavior.

Since Christ's return will come “like a thief in the night,” we should always be on our best behavior; that is, we should live as people who will one day give an account for every day before the Lord. The Second Coming of Christ is a truth that should affect our daily lives! It certainly affected Paul's life deeply. Because he knew he served a living Savior who had promised to come again, he could endure suffering with joy. Christ's return was a key element in his purpose-filled life and one of the reasons he and Silas could sing in prison (see yesterday's reading). That's why we've chosen today's reading. 1 Thessalonians was written about 51 A.D., during the second missionary journey, and is usually considered to be the second letter written by Paul.

Paul summarized God's purpose for us as pleasing Him, acting as set apart or sanctified people, and avoiding sexual immorality. Holiness is every believer's calling, to be lived out quietly, with love for others and in the power of the Spirit. The term brotherly love reminds us that we're all children in God's family and should be living in such a way as to “win the respect of outsiders” (4:12).

Christ's return is the ultimate motivation to live with these purposes in our lives. Because He rose from the dead, we have great hope! When He comes again to make all things right and new, we'll be reunited with our deceased, believing loved ones and fully united with Him. Death is a grievous fact, but it carries no lasting sting (1 Cor. 15:53-57). We need to encourage and exhort one another with these truths and live as children of light (5:5).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Breathing brief, repetitive prayers throughout the day is a form of prayer which has a rich history in Christian tradition, but is little-known or practiced in some circles today. The idea is to concentrate on saying a simple biblical idea that through repetition soaks deeply into your heart, mind, and soul. If you wish, try this type of prayer today with the phrase, “Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus.” By the end of the day, we believe you'll be looking forward to Christ's return even more than you do now!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 17
What may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. - Romans 1:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
Intelligent design theory argues that the purpose and order evident in nature cannot explain themselves. Some natural systems are “irreducibly complex” and could never have evolved on their own. Mathematician and philosopher William Dembski of Baylor University has even put together a scientific method for determining the probability of whether an object is a product of design or random chance. Many Darwinian scientists, wary of the obvious supernatural implications, heap scorn on intelligent design theory as “creationism in a lab coat.”

Yet the evidence of the created world remains strong. Paul used creation as evidence for God's existence in today's reading, a point actually granted to him by his audience, the philosophers of the Athenian Areopagus. What they stumbled over and most couldn't believe was the miracle of the Resurrection.

Paul and his friends had gone on from Philippi to preach in Thessalonica and Berea. Although the Bereans studied the Scriptures intensely to test the gospel, some troublemaking Thessalonians followed Paul there in order to stir up trouble. Paul, the lightning rod, was sent away while Silas and Timothy remained, which is how Paul ended up alone in Athens. A city in decline at this point in history, Athens was still a philosophical and religious center and Paul, being who he was, engaged with it fully, witnessing wherever he could. His activities eventually got him invited to the Areopagus, a kind of philosophical debate society addicted to the newest ideas (v. 21).

These scholars were curious about Paul, but not respectful, referring to him as a “babbler,” implying he was someone who stitched together a philosophy from ill-fitting scraps picked up at random. Nonetheless, Paul made the most of his opportunity. He used a cultural entry point—their altar to an unknown god. His point about general revelation—creation and providence—argued that people need to seek God, and judgment awaits those who don't. The way to seek God is through repentance. When he asserted Christ's Resurrection as proof, however, only a few people then believed (cf. 1 Cor. 1:22-24).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
By closely observing the culture around him, Paul found an entry point for sharing the gospel.

You can do the same! Watch a television news program tonight—millions of Americans do; it's a cultural fixture. Look for a news item that might provide an entry point for sharing the gospel, such as a science report (showing design in creation) or a war story (contrasting with the Prince of Peace). If you were chatting with a neighbor, how might you use this news as a conversational bridge to eternal truths?