TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 9:1-19
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TODAY IN THE WORD

Ulysses S. Grant’s first command in the Civil War was overa regiment of Illinois volunteers. As he led his troops into battleagainst the Confederates in northern Missouri, Grant reflectedlater: “My heart kept getting higher and higher until itfelt to me as though it was in my throat. I would have given anythingthen to have been back in Illinois.” But then the thoughtoccurred to him that the enemy had as much reason to fear himas he had to fear the enemy. Buoyed by his new insight, Grantlaid aside his fears and went forward into the battle.

Ananias of Damascus wished he could have stayed home the dayhe heard God’s voice calling him into “battle.”This otherwise unknown disciple is usually remembered for hishesitation to obey God’s instructions concerning Saul.Ananias didn’t have advance knowledge that Saul was nolonger an enemy to be feared, but a brother to be embraced (v.17).

This is not an excuse for Ananias’ reluctance to obey,but his objections show him to be thoroughly human. Saul’sreputation as a persecutor of the saints had preceded him. EvidentlyAnanias had heard that Saul was coming to Damascus, and he wantednothing to do with this Jewish zealot.

God’s answer to His reluctant hero included more informationabout Saul, who came to be known as Paul (Acts 13:9). But Godalso repeated His command, and Ananias didn’t need to betold again. His obedience is admirable, and God rewarded Ananiasby using him to perform a notable miracle.

As he walked to the house of Judas on Straight Street, perhapsAnanias rehearsed what he would say. He may even have realizedthe importance of what had happened to Saul and become excitedabout his new brother.

We don’t know if he greeted Saul with firm or with tremblingvoice, but Ananias delivered his message faithfully before hedisappeared into history.

Most of us can identify with Ananias because we don’t considerourselves particularly brave or heroic by the world’s standards.

But God measures heroism by a different standard:

obedience. That’s encouraging! Why? Because while we maynot have the strength or the skill to perform heroic feats, allof us can obey God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Philippians 2:25-30
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TODAY IN THE WORD

The U.S. House of Representatives is made up of four hundred andthirty-five members; but all states are not represented equally.Since House seats are allotted based on population, seven of thefifty states have the minimum number of representatives possible:just one. The seven smallest-population states are Alaska, Delaware,Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming.

If you can have only one representative, you definitely wantto select the right person! Paul certainly got the right personwhen he chose Epaphro-ditus as his representative to and co-workerin the church at Philippi. This diligent man is mentioned onlyin today’s text and in Philippians 4:18, but what a ringing“endorsement” Paul gave him!

Epaphroditus was a “brother,” “fellow worker,”and “fellow soldier” to Paul. The apostle wasn’tthe type to throw compliments around lightly, so these terms oughtto make us stop to take a closer look at this remarkable disciple.

Paul’s sense of brotherhood with Epaphroditus suggestsa warm affection for him. The two men also shared a passion asfellow workers for the ministry of the gospel.

Calling Epaphroditus a “fellow soldier” may havebeen Paul’s highest tribute, for it meant that Epaphrodituswas able to endure the same kind of hardship in ministry thatPaul endured (see 2 Tim. 2:3).

Paul was in prison, probably in Rome, when the church at Philippisent Epaphroditus to the apostle with their gift of support. Whilewith Paul, Epaphroditus became almost fatally sick. God sparedhis life, to the delight of Paul and Epaphroditus’ fellowbelievers back in Philippi.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY


Who wouldn’t want to be like Epaphro-ditus—a personwho brings delight wherever he shows up?

It’s no mystery why Epaphroditus was such a valued andloved member of the early church. We talked about his qualitiesas a brother, worker and soldier. His role as a “messenger”(literally, “apostle”) also suggests that he wasfaithful to the true gospel message.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 16:1-5; 2 Timothy 1:3-7
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TODAY IN THE WORD

Many students of church history are familiar with the story ofSusanna Wesley, who counted John and Charles among her nineteenchildren, only nine of whom lived to adulthood. Susanna was saidto have prayed for her children two hours a day, along with teachingthem their basic school subjects. She was well-prepared to carefor and lead her large family. She herself was the daughter ofa well-known minister, the youngest of his twenty-five children.Susanna benefited from a godly home and passed the heritage onto her children.

Although his Christian heritage probably did not span as manyyears as that of the Wesleys, Timothy also benefited from a godlyhome. His mother and grandmother, Eunice and Lois, are two largelyunsung heroines of the Bible.

We first meet Timothy and his family in Acts 16, where Paul takesthe young disciple into his circle of fellow workers. Timothyand the two women in his life may not have been believers forvery long, since they were probably among the converts Paul madein Lystra on his first missionary journey (Acts 14:6-7).

But Timothy had made good progress in the faith. The brothersspoke well of him (Acts 16:2), a tribute to his mother’sand grandmother’s teaching and influence. Most Bible teachersbelieve that Eunice was a widow by this time. It’s likelyLois was a widow too, meaning that these women had little or nosupport as they taught Timothy in the faith.

Paul makes a very interesting reference to these women’sinfluence when he reminds Timothy that he had known the Scripturesfrom infancy (2 Tim. 3:15). It’s evident that as a Jewishmother (Acts 16:1), Eunice had been faithful to teach her sonthe Old Testament Scriptures.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Who wouldn’t want to be like Epaphro-ditus—a personwho brings delight wherever he shows up?

Whatever your spiritual heritage, you have a wonderful opportunitytoday.

Can you point to a parent or a grandparent who taught you tolove the Lord? Then you have the opportunity to hand that heritageon to the next generation. That “handoff” is crucialin every generation, since “God has no grandchildren.” In other words, no one “inherits” faith; every personmust believe for himself.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 2:1-10; Hebrews 11:23-26
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TODAY IN THE WORD

Emma Revell Moody was as quiet as her husband was flamboyant.It’s likely that few people today who know the name DwightL. Moody could even name his wife if asked. But Moody himselfoften acknowledged that he could not have accomplished his ministrywithout the quiet strength of his beloved wife. Emma Moody wascontent to remain in the background of her famous husband’slife, but in her own way she was as strong in spirit as Mr. Moody. A dedicated Sunday school teacher and worker, she also handledthe family’s finances and D.L.’s correspondencefor many years.

The mother of Moses was also a background figure in today’sScripture reading, at least as far as human prominence is concerned.We wouldn’t even know Jochebed’s name except forher inclusion in two genealogies (Exod. 6:20; Num. 26:59). Buther courage and faith in hiding her son Moses from Pharaoh’sdeath sentence is a pivotal event in biblical history.

We know the familiar story of the baby Moses hidden along thebanks of the Nile, where he was found by the daughter of Pharaohand spared from death. It has been a staple of children’sBible story books for generations, as well it should be. Butthis is not just a charming little story. It was a remarkableact of faith as a faithful Hebrew mother put her life and thelives of her family on the line to defy Pharaoh and obey God.He rewarded her immediately when she became Moses’ nurse,at least until Moses was weaned and presented to Pharaoh’sdaughter.

Did Jochebed live to see her son grow up and identify himselfwith the people of God? We don’t know. But her place onGod’s honor roll is secure.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY


The Bible reminds us that the right choice isn’t alwaysthe easy choice. Jochebed certainly illustrates that fact.

Bible dramas such as Exodus 2 can be a great subject for a dinnertimeconversation as you help your children learn the value of makingGod-honoring decisions. Plan to take time this weekend to enlivena family meal with a discussion about choosing what’s rightno matter what the consequences. As you share Jochebed’sdecision, don’t forget to tell the “rest of thestory” in Hebrews 11:27ff.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 17:11-19
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TODAY IN THE WORD

Fulton Oursler tells of Anna, his family’s longtime nursewho had attended not only his birth, but also the birth of hismother. Anna was a remarkable woman who had been born a slave.One day, Oursler recalls, Anna taught him the greatest lessonhe ever learned about giving thanks. Watching Anna bow her headat a meal, Oursler heard her thank the Lord for her food. “But,Anna,” he said, “you’d get your food whetheryou thank the Lord or not.”

“Sure,” she replied, “but it makes everythingtaste better to be thankful.”

Anyone who knows the Bible knows how vital gratitude is for believers.It’s not just a nice thing to do or “tipping ourhat” to God. Expressing gratitude is an essential dailydiscipline for a follower of Jesus Christ.

An incident that happened as Jesus made His way to Jerusalemunderscores the value of being thankful. A group of ten leperssaw Him and called out for mercy. They kept their distance, asthe law required, but they shouted loud enough to get Jesus’attention.

They received much more than that! Jesus healed all of them asthey obeyed His instructions to appear before the priests, againa requirement to fulfill the Mosaic law. We can’t faultthe men for their faith, expressed in their obedience to Jesus’instructions.

But nine of the ten men forgot to be thankful. The grateful leperwho turned back to fall at Jesus’ feet stood out from thecrowd and drew Jesus’ commendation. We’re not toldthe spiritual condition of the other lepers, but this man heardJesus pronounce him “made whole,” another way totranslate the phrase “made well” in verse 19.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY


No matter where we turn in the Scriptures, we keep coming backto the importance of gratitude.

The Samaritan in today’s story came back to thank Jesus,making a deliberate effort to express his gratitude. Every Lord’sday is an opportunity for us to come back to thank God for Hisgoodness to us.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 7:24-30
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TODAY IN THE WORD

It is said that the motivation for Alexander Graham Bell’swork with the telephone was his desire to help deaf people communicate,perhaps because Bell’s wife and mother were both deaf.For five frustrating years, Bell experimented to create a metaldisk that could reproduce sound and send it over an electrifiedwire. Then he realized he needed to know more about electricity,so he took up that study and became an expert. Bell’s persistencepaid off when he was granted a patent for the telephone.

Like Alexander Graham Bell, the Gentile mother in today’stext had good reason to be persistent. Her daughter was suffering,not from deafness but from demon possession. When she heard thatJesus had come north into her region, she ran to Him and fellat His feet.

We met this mother in last month’s study on spiritualwarfare. But today we want to focus on her determination to seeJesus heal her daughter. Even when Jesus tested her faith by acomment that seems harsh (v. 27), she wasn’t put off ordiscouraged.

Instead, in verse 28 she gave a reply that displayed remarkablefaith and spiritual insight. Her response must have left Jesusmarveling. This woman knew she had no real claim on Jesus, sinceshe was a Gentile and not one of the “family” ofIsrael.

But she also knew her little girl was lying at home, tormentedby an evil spirit. So this mother was determined not to let heropportunity pass. She threw herself at Jesus’ feet in totalhumility, ready to receive whatever “crumbs” He mightgive her (v. 28).

Jesus rewarded her persistent faith by granting her prayer infull. The Lord performed the miracle from a distance. He neversaw the girl, but of course He didn’t need to be in thathome to heal her.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Only Jesus could make a promise like the one found in today’sverse.

We often think we’re being bold and persistent in prayerif we pray for something over a period of time. But time is notnecessarily the key to what Jesus is saying here. It’sthe intensity of our need and our request that moves the heartof God. Today’s text is a perfect example.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 7:36-50
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TODAY IN THE WORD

In 1958, small-town Pennsylvania preacher David Wilkerson feltcalled by God to go to New York and minister among inner cityteenagers. Shortly after his arrival, he met gang member NickyCruz, who told him: “You come near me, preacher, and I’llkill you!” Nicky, a drug addict, had already stabbed 16people and was known all over the city as a vicious knife fighter.

But within a few months, Nicky’s heart softened. Duringan evangelistic rally, he came forward to accept Christ. Thistime his words to Wilkerson were different: “I am givingmy heart to God.”

What a turnaround! Nicky gave up his life of darkness, wenton to study at a Bible school, and eventually became a part ofDavid Wilkerson’s ministry to the gangs.

It’s hard to imagine someone as hardhearted as Nicky trustingChrist. But such repentance delights Jesus, who freely extendsforgiveness to those who seek it wholeheartedly.

The anonymous woman in Luke 7 was one such person. We have includedher in our study of unsung Bible heroes and heroines because ofher courage and humility in the way she sought out Jesus and approachedHim. Even though she had lived a sinful life, she became an exampleof deep love for God (v. 47).

It isn’t hard to picture the disgust on the face of Simonthe Pharisee, Jesus’ host for this meal. Ordinarily, hewouldn’t have come within a city block of this sinner (v.39). But here she was in his home, putting on an embarrassingdisplay.

Actually, Simon was the only person who was uncomfortable. Jesushandled the woman’s tearful act of repentance with perfectdignity. He knew exactly what was in her heart. The story Jesustold Simon (vv. 41-42) led beautifully to the lesson He wantedto teach.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

This story presents an intriguing contrast that gives us somethingworth thinking about today.

Picture Simon scowling because a sinful person had invaded hissqueaky-clean world. But as Jesus forgave this woman, all of heavenwas rejoicing (see Luke 15:7).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 2:1-12
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Many people today can still name the British climber who in 1953 became the first person to scale Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain. Sir Edmund Hillary reached the peak with his Sherpa guide, Tenzing Norgay. But not many people remember that the way was eased for Hillary in the spring of the previous year when Raymond Lambert and Norgay climbed to within 300 yards of Everest's summit. Lambert made another climb that autumn which also proved of immense help to Hillary in charting a path to the top the following year.

Lambert and Norgay helped pave the way for Hillary's feat. In a similar way, the four friends of the paralytic in Mark 2 helped pave the way for their friend. The paralyzed man and Jesus are certainly the focus of the account, but these friends became unsung Bible heroes by making a great effort to get their friend to Jesus.

These men are usually remembered for digging a hole through the roof of some unfortunate person's house. The typical roof of that day consisted of wooden beams with thatch and compacted earth placed between them to shed rain. In some cases, tiles were placed between the beams. The damage to the roof could easily be repaired.

But the Bible does not dwell on that detail of the story. Dirt and other debris probably fell on those inside the house as a hole appeared in the roof and light streamed in. So it wasn't hard for the men to get the attention of Jesus and everyone else in the house, especially when a pallet was lowered down through the hole.

Mark is careful to note that Jesus took notice of their faith (v. 5). Nothing is said about the paralytic's faith or lack of it. But because of his believing friends, he received a double blessing.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Like these four Bible heroes, we need to do whatever we can to remove obstacles that may be keeping someone from Jesus.

One of the best ways you can do this is by making sure there is nothing in your own life that poses a hindrance to an unsaved friend or a family member you hope to lead to Christ. The Holy Spirit can reveal to you anything that may make it harder for the other person to trust Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Kings 4:1-7
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TODAY IN THE WORD
D.L. Moody was brought up in grinding poverty. Just a few months after his father died, his mother gave birth to twins. Now Betsy Moody had nine mouths to feed and no income. Creditors hounded the family constantly. Yet Mrs. Moody never turned a needy person away from her farmhouse door. When there was an extra person at the dinner table, Moody said his mother ""just sliced the bread a little thinner.""

The widow in today's story was facing the same kind of extreme need as the Moody family--with one startling addition. She lived in a society in which family members could be taken away to satisfy the family's debts. Her two sons were about to be claimed by the family's creditor. Most likely, they would be made to work until the debt was fully paid.

We don't know very much more about this widow's situation. She was obviously a younger woman, since her husband had been in Elisha's ""company of the prophets"" (a training school for new prophets) and her children were still at home.

The woman reminded Elisha that her husband had been a faithful servant of the Lord. Then she laid her desperate need before him. Very sympathetic to her plea, Elisha offered her what proved to be a miraculous solution to her debt problem.

Like so many of the stories we have studied so far, this was a faith operation from beginning to end. Elisha's hint to the woman to gather as many jars as she could indicated that something special was about to happen.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Few if any of the people we are studying performed what could be called heroic feats. Most were very ordinary people--but they believed and served an extraordinary God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Kings 4:8-37
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TODAY IN THE WORD
As the 1920s drew to a close, America experienced a boom that seemed to have no limits. Herbert Hoover announced happily: ""The poorhouse is vanishing among us. We in America today are nearer to the final triumph over poverty than ever before in the history of the land...We shall soon with the help of God be in sight of the day when poverty will be banished from this nation.""

But about a year later, the stock market crashed and America was plunged into the Great Depression.

Circumstances can change fast. This happened to the wealthy woman from Shunem who befriended the prophet Elisha and used her home and wealth to support him. From serving Elisha an occasional meal when he was in the area, she persuaded her husband to build an extra room for the prophet to use whenever he visited.

Within this context of generosity and sensitivity to the Lord, Elisha offered to fulfill a request for this woman. Elisha's servant Gehazi had observed that the woman was childless and had little hope of ever having children. So Elisha made a promise that she would have a son within a year. The woman's reaction was very normal (v. 16). She did not want to get her hopes up in case it proved impossible for her to have a child.

Elisha's promise, however, was not based on physical factors but on the power of God. The Shunammite did have a son, although one day a few years later her circumstances changed dramatically again. The boy suddenly fell ill in the field and was dead by noon.

Anyone can sympathize with this mother's frantic trip to Elisha at Mount Carmel. She had experienced the miracle of her son's birth. Then as Elisha raised the boy to life, she saw the power of God again.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Friday the thirteenth is the day the world frets about ""bad luck.""

But neither luck nor any similar false idea has any place in a believer's life. Today's text is a testimony to the power that rules in our lives: the grace and goodness of God. The woman from Shunem could tell us that God is always gracious to His faithful people.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 24:1-6, 10-27
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TODAY IN THE WORD
It seems that every few years a story comes out of the sports world about the extreme steps some parents take to ensure that their son or daughter achieves athletic greatness. A few years ago we heard about a father who had programmed his son for football greatness from the cradle, hiring an array of specialists to mold the boy into the perfect quarterback. Two more parents live in different parts of the country so the couple's daughter can live near her ice skating coach and pursue the dream of reaching the Olympics.

Abraham knew the value of giving a child the right start. But this patriarch's goals for Isaac had nothing to do with temporal success. Abraham wanted to make sure that Isaac did not marry a daughter of the Canaanites (v. 3), who would lead his heart away from the Lord.

Judging by the later experience of Israelites such as Samson and Solomon, and even Abraham's own grandson Esau, the ""father of the faithful"" knew what he was doing.

But Abraham was also old. How could he make sure his instructions were carried out? Enter his chief servant, unnamed here but almost certainly Eliezer (Gen. 15:2). He would be entrusted with the search for Isaac's bride.

Eliezer did the job right, and for that he deserves a place among the unsung heroes of the Bible.

First, Eliezer swore to Abraham that he would faithfully carry out his charge. Second, he prayed for success in the search (Gen. 24:12). Third, he checked out Rebekah's background and watched her closely to discern the Lord's leading. Fourth and finally, Abraham's servant praised God for His favor (vv. 26-27).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
hspace=5>How do you treat the other members of your family? Today, take a moment to consider We seem now to be at the place in our society where doing a job well is the exception rather than the expectation.

No matter where, with whom, or for whom you work, the Bible's counsel is for you to do your work to the best of your ability--and even with joy. If you enjoy your work, this will not present a problem. But if you are in a hard work situation, this may seem like a tall order right now.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 4:43-54
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Martin Luther was known as an excellent father who had an especially soft place in his heart for his daughter, Magdalena. When she fell sick at the age of fourteen, Luther prayed for her, telling God, ""I love her very much; but, dear God, if it is Thy holy will to take her, I would gladly leave her with Thee."" Magdalena did die, and Luther grieved long and hard.

Our text for today paints a similar picture of a father's love. A nameless royal official from Capernaum came to Jesus in the village of Cana, begging Him to come to heal his son. With the boy hovering near death, we can imagine this father's feeling of pleading and desperation.

But Jesus seemed to give the man a hard answer: ""Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe"" (v. 48). Obviously Jesus was not uncaring about this father and his dying son. He was dealing with the official much as He did with the Syro-Phoenician woman (see June 9), testing the depth of the man's faith.

To his credit, the father didn't try to argue with Jesus. He simply repeated his request, and Jesus immediately responded with a promise of healing. The Bible says the man believed Jesus and went his way.

What happened next helps explain why Jesus healed the boy without ever going to Capernaum. His power was such that He did not have to be present.

But there was something else going on here. The distance between Capernaum and Cana was not great, yet based on what his servant said to him in verse 52 the official apparently did not leave for home until the next day. In other words, the official had such confidence in Jesus' word that he appears to have spent the night in Cana rather than rushing straight home.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Before this month is over, we will meet several parents who pleaded with the Lord on behalf of their children.

Today's story is a great picture of fatherhood. Did you have a father who prayed for you while you were growing up? Be sure to thank the Lord for this gift today. If you are a father whose children are still home, commit yourself to pray for them regularly.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 1:8-22
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Narcissa Whitman and her husband, Dr. Marcus Whitman, were pioneer missionaries to the Indians of the Northwest Territory. Narcissa provided foster care for a number of sick Cayuse children who would otherwise have been left in the woods to die. But when the tribe learned that Narcissa would care for these children, sick children were often left at her home.

A measles epidemic in 1847, however, killed several of the eleven children in the Whitman home. The Indians thought the Whitmans were trying to harm them through the disease, and Narcissa and Marcus were killed.

The Whitmans showed courage in saving the children, and paid with their lives. The Hebrew midwives in today's Bible reading also put their lives on the line to save children. But God spared them and blessed them because they feared Him more than they feared the wrath of the Egyptian pharaoh.

Earlier this month, we reviewed the well-known story of baby Moses being hidden by his mother in defiance of the pharaoh's order to kill all male Hebrew babies. The heroism of Jochebed was matched by Shiphrah and Puah, the midwives who attended the Hebrew women in childbirth. Their names and their story qualify these two women as unsung Bible heroines.

The pharaoh's order of male infanticide was a last resort in the effort to keep the Hebrew slaves from becoming too numerous. Oppression and hard labor had not done the job, so the king of Egypt sent out the horrible order to kill all Jewish boy babies.

The key to the story, and the reason we consider these women to be heroines, is found in verse 17 of today's reading. The midwives revered the Lord far more than they feared the evil king.

God's kindness to them was evident in two ways. First, the midwives were not put to death for defying the royal order. Second, God gave them families of their own.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When God decides to bless His people for their obedience, no power on earth can hinder Him.

We hope that's an encouraging word to you today. Whether you are starting a new work week or enjoying a few days of vacation, take heart knowing that no act of faithfulness on your part goes unnoticed by the Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Timothy 1:16-18
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Many Americans know the name of Nathan Hale, the Revolutionary War hero who was executed by the British on September 22, 1776, for spying. George Washington desperately needed information about the movements of General Howe, his British foe. Hale volunteered to go behind enemy lines, knowing what would happen to him if caught. Hale told a fellow officer he was ready to render whatever service was required of him.

Onesiphorus had that same attitude. He sounds like the kind of man who would have given whatever service and sacrifice the gospel required. Paul has a lot of good things to say about this man in a very short space. All we know about Onesiphorus by name occurs in today's verses. Paul also tells Timothy to greet Onesiphorus and his family (2 Tim. 4:19).

Paul's tribute to Onesipho-rus may be brief, but it is generous. The first thing we learn about Onesiphorus is that he was repeatedly kind to Paul. Given the kind of trials and hostility Paul endured, he needed friends who would often refresh him.

It's also interesting that Paul specifically said how much he appreciated that Onesiphor-us was not ashamed to be identified with the apostle. We know we are not supposed to be ashamed of the gospel (Rom. 1:16). But sometimes it can be risky for us to stand next to the messenger of the gospel. Whatever dangers Onesiphorus may have faced for ministering to Paul in prison, the apostle's beloved friend was willing to pay that price. He went far out of his way to find Paul to serve him.

It appears, judging by Paul's final comment in verse 18, that Onesiphorus was from Ephesus. But whether it was Rome or Ephesus, the result was the same. Onesiphorus served Paul, and in doing so he served the gospel.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When God decides to bless His people for their obedience, no power on earth can hinder Him.Wouldn't it be great to be known as the ""help-bringer?""

We can imagine what it meant to Paul's spirit to look up from the floor of his Roman dungeon and see Onesiphorus coming to help him. Do you know someone who needs a ""help-bringer"" today?

It may take only a few minutes on the phone, a written note of encouragement, or a visit to lift someone's spirit. And if the need is greater, your service in the name of Christ will mean even more.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 18:23-28; Romans 16:3-4
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Jeremiah Lanphier was a New York City businessman who became concerned for the masses in the city's tenements. At the age of forty, Lanphier left his job to become a missionary for a church in one of New York's poorest sections. But the more he tried to evangelize the city's poorest people, the more discouraged he became. God led Lanphier to start holding noon prayer meetings for the lost; and on September 23, 1857, six people came to pray. In God's providence, that small meeting was the beginning of the great laymen's prayer revival of 1858.

Never underestimate what godly, praying laypeople can do! Priscilla and Aquila were two such people, and they helped shape the history of the early church. Although their names are more familiar than some others we are studying this month, they still qualify as unsung Bible heroes.

What this Jewish couple did as recorded in Acts 18 was not a headline-making piece of service. But God used them to support and encourage Paul and to help launch Apollos into an effective ministry for Christ.

These verses show the transitional nature of Acts, which explains why Apollos needed further instruction in the faith. He had ""a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures"" (v. 24). Yet it seems he had not yet received the Holy Spirit (see Acts 19:1-7), so his teaching was limited. Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos speak in Ephesus, and they took him aside to fill in the gaps in his knowledge (18:26).

The fact that these two were in Ephesus is itself an indication of their commitment to Christ. Paul first met them in Corinth (18:2), from where they accompanied him to Ephesus (18:18). Then Paul greets them in Rome. Later, they seem to have moved back to Ephesus (2 Tim. 4:19).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When God decides to bless His people for their obedience, no power on earth can hinder Him.Wouldn't it be great to be known as the ""help-bringer?""Priscilla and Aquila had a quality valuable to those who want to serve Christ: flexibility.

You may be thinking, 'I'm not ready to start moving back and forth across the country as they did."" God may not ask you to do that. But He may want you to go out of your way or vary your daily routine to serve someone in His name.