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Listen while you read: "Saviour While My Heart Is Tender"1
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Acts 25:21 – When Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar. (NIV)
My wife Evelyn and I have just returned from a beautiful trip to Greece. We explored many places, climbed thousands of ancient steps, and visited some of the most amazing Greek and Roman ruins in the world. We had planned this holiday for almost three years, and we both looked forward to visiting the many historical places associated with the apostle Paul. We were not disappointed.
Ever since elementary school, I've admired Paul's ministry. I grew up in a time when my school teacher began each day with a Bible passage and commentary. Most of the time, my teacher read from the book of Acts and talked about Paul's arduous journeys to plant churches around the Mediterranean and in Asia Minor. More than fifty years later, I was able to see those historic places, especially the ones in Ephesus, Corinth, Rhodes, and Athens.
Paul purposefully lived to spread the gospel of Jesus, and eventually, he was martyred because of his faith. He wanted to share the good news of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection to everyone who was willing to listen to his message. He even managed to talk about Jesus to the most powerful man in the world of his day — the Roman Emperor — as he made his personal appeal to Caesar. Imagine that — an itinerant preacher with no wealth or social position — standing before the mightiest and most revered person in the ancient world, talking to him about Jesus.
As Evelyn and I walked on ancient roads where Paul travelled, we both felt a connection to the great work that Paul accomplished in his day. As we listened to different local guides tell us parts of Paul's story, we were both humbled and inspired to spread the gospel for the rest of our lives to those who are willing to listen, because we never know who is ready to respond to God and accept His gift of salvation. We just have to make the most of our opportunities to share Christ's love and words with all whom we are still to meet.
Points to ponder: How do I share my faith in Christ? How can I make the most of my opportunities to share Christ's love anywhere at any time?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for calling Paul into Your ministry. We are grateful for the many things that he accomplished through his total devotion to You. Help us to carry on the mission of Your gospel by sharing Your love with all whom we meet and encounter today. In Your holy name, we humbly pray. Amen.
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About the author:
John Stuart <traqair@aol.com>
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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Thank you.
Thanks for the good word, John.
Welcome back. Wondered where you were. Been missing your devotionals.
Thank you, John, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. To God be the glory, great things He has done and continues to do! Blessings.
Wow, what an incredible experience.
Great message.
Blessings,
(QC, CANADA)
Good morning,
Thank you for always sharing your faith. A book that has blessed me a great deal is The Apostle: A Life of Paul by John Pollock. It encouraged me to read and reread Acts and Paul’s epistles.
Your devotion today, brought back memories for me when I was blessed with a similar journey in the footsteps of Paul. I’ve been able to visualize the scriptures so much better since my trip. Thank you for the many devotions that you submit to this site.
Hello John
How exciting that must have been to be where Paul had been and to be in places where your teacher talked about. May God keep giving us creative ways to show His love to the ones around us.
God bless.
Greetings John and many thanks for this beautiful and deeply meaningful devotional this morning You certainly are one who shares the love of our loving Lord with many people. I am happy to hear that you and your wife had such a special holiday and got to walk through treasured places of times gone by. Your reference to time back in elementary school struck a chord with me too as I remember those schooldays when we started the class with reciting the Lord’s prayer and a scripture reading. I think if that was still happening in schools today, our world would be a better place. Blessings and many thanks for your writings.
Good morning, John
Thank you for those wonderful words about Paul spreading the gospel. We as a family back in many years ago when we lived in Austria went to Greece as well, we have a picture of the us sitting on the edge of the Parthenon, you could still get that close at that time. Later when the two of us where there we could not get that close anymore.
I too loved visiting the places where Paul was and the work he accomplished for the Lord.
Thank you for your good words.
Blessings.
Hello John,
I read your Daily Devotional about following the ways of St. Paul and wondered if you had seen the TV series “In the Footsteps of St. Paul”.
It is presented by the actor David Suchet (perhaps best known for his portrayal of Hercule Poirot!). Suchet is clearly a man of faith, and constantly refers to his well-worn Bible which he carries with him. At one point he speaks of getting his truest sense of Paul as a man in a mission as he realizes the pace at which you needed to walk on the Roman roads.
Anyway, from one retired ex-pat Scots preacher to another, thank you for your devotionals which I have read over the years.
Blessings.