Read Acts 21:17 thru 23
 
Acts 22:9-10 The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me. 10 “I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’”
 
WHAT is your testimony of Jesus saving you? When and where did he enter your life to the point you were willing to ask him, “What should I do, Lord?”
   The Jews of Jerusalem were threatening Paul’s life. Roman soldiers had to protect him. But amid this threat, Paul stopped to speak to the raging mob! Even amid the noise, Paul found another opportunity for many Jews to know about Jesus the Christ, Son of God and Son of Man.
   Paul’s testimony began where most of us would begin. He told of the Living Christ powerfully intercepting his life and then commanding him to serve. Paul’s question, “What should I do, Lord?” was evidence the Holy Spirit had quickly transformed Paul’s mind.
   The Spirit of God had taken his sword to spiritually circumcise Paul’s heart to release the festering pride, hatred and opposition holding Paul’s heart captive. The Spirit removed Paul’s desire to kill and destroy Christians, so he could love them. Paul’s heart became an empty vessel prepared to receive the truth. Paul was a man of authority who quickly recognized a greater authority had come to him.
   I wonder if, “What should I do, Lord?” is your question and mine as we tell our testimony? It seems that many people will recall their conversion as a time when they “felt Jesus enter my life to take control.” Or, “I had a peace when I confessed Christ Jesus.” We like to tell what Jesus has done for us. This is good and necessary testimony. After all, Jesus has done everything for us! But have we told people what Jesus has commanded us to do? There are many who tell of the ways life changed for them when they asked, “What should I do, Lord?” They heard and obeyed the King’s commands.
   Throughout Scripture when God confronted people for his kingdom work – whether it was a burning bush, a pillar of fire, a staircase from heaven, a voice in the night or many other ways – ordinary people suddenly asked, “What should I do, Lord? Wouldn’t this be a glorious way to live, totally committed to the God, who saves?
 

Read Acts 20:3-21:16
 
Acts 20:9 As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. 10 Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!” 11 Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left.
 
THIS almost seems humorous. Paul talked so long into the night, a man named Eutychus fell asleep, fell out a window and died. But what happened? Paul spoke resurrection into the man’s life. And quickly he was alive and well. Then the group returned to upstairs room for the Lord’s Supper, to eat a meal and hear more from Paul. What a night!
   Were such miracles so common that Luke, the writer, made this resurrection story only a brief comment? Perhaps God did show himself often through such miracles among the early church. We know from Acts 19:11 God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. Surely, then, we can understand resurrections of the dead was an expected miracle among the Paul and the other apostles.
   The LORD may not have gifted us in the same way. But let’s always remember that God is life. If you consider someone’s faith life has fallen asleep and he is without hope, keep praying for and believing in the hope of Jesus’ resurrection. Faithfully seek Jesus’ power to resurrect lives from sin’s death.
 
You’ll Know
 
Acts 20:22-24 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But 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.
 
THIS is a beautiful Scripture of love and commitment to God. All of us should remember these words and use them as a life purpose statement. Paul was, indeed, passionate to go where the Lord Jesus called. As the Spirit made him aware of impending imprisonment and suffering, he remained dedicated to God’s work.
   Have you ever considered that completing God’s work will extend beyond preserving your own life? We often consider Jesus’ words to, “take up your cross and follow me.” as discipleship hardship. But the depth of its meaning means to serve God in a way that leads to the fullness of life in Jesus. If the Son of God had to die, so he could reign with the Father forever, doesn’t this seem the way for us, too?
   Can any of us reach the level of obedience as Paul and the other apostles? We can when we faithfully and meekly listen to the Holy Spirit. The Church then needed sacrificial Jesus followers, and the church needs the same followers today. Why pay any attention at all to the Spirit’s revelations if we have no desire to do as he says?
    

Read Romans 12 thru 16
 
Romans 13:10-11 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. 11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
 
ONE family in the church we attended several years ago came to live in the area for only two years. Because they were eager to use their gifts for the church, their short stay and their willingness to serve created the perfect picture of Paul teaching. They understood that God had awakened them to the gospel. Their time was brief to impact the community for Christ. There wasn’t time to wonder, “What is God’s will?” Time was short to weigh the pros and cons of choosing and committing to a church.
   This is kingdom living for us all. Our lives are short. There is no time to wait and see in the Kingdom of God. There is only time to say, “Here I am, LORD.” with a faithful heart toward God’s love for the world.
   What would you do if you only had two more years to live? Or two more months? Or two more days? Would you sit and wait for the end? Or would you get up and do something? If you pray, read the Bible and have a church home, God is talking to you in some way. Maybe he spoke through last Sunday’s sermon. Or you might have stopped on a verse you read today. Perhaps you had a thought while you prayed. A Christian friend or series of friends may be encouraging you to a particular task.
   So then: Are you urgent about God’s communications to you? Do not wait until it is convenient for you to respond. The time is now. It may not happen again. You don’t want to miss the joy of working with God.  
 
Celebrate the Helpers
 
Romans 16:3-4 Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus. 4 In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches.
 
PRISCILLLA and Aquila are faith heroes. Paul called them, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus. This faithful apostle who had labored, debated and suffered for his gospel preaching called them “co-workers”. They were his equals in ministry as they labored alongside Paul.
   No, we don’t have any of Priscilla’s and Aquila’s teachings, but we do know they mentored many leaders. They were truly living sacrifices for the Kingdom of God, helping Paul’s ministry build Jesus’ church. “They once risked their lives for me.” is a remarkable statement. To risk their lives, this wife-husband team, might have stood by Paul when the mobs tried to stone him or accuse him with other violence.
   Priscilla and Aquila left a wonderful legacy of faith and service didn’t they?
 

Deep Passion 
Read Romans 9 thru 11
 
Romans 9:1-2 With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. 2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed – cut off from Christ! – if that would save them. 
 
HOW do we understand Paul’s deep love for the Jews? He is willing to trade heaven for hell if that would save all Jews! How would one love so sacrificially?
   Paul’s deep, deep passion for the unsaved Jews is one of the reasons Paul was able to endure many hardships such as shipwrecks, beatings, jail, deprivation and sickness. Even as his main purpose was to minister to the Gentiles, Paul still strived for the Jews to know Jesus as Lord, Son of God, Redeemer and Messiah. Where was that fervent love born?
   Paul was not alone. Each of Christ’s true apostles developed this passion for the Jews because they walked with Jesus. Jesus showed them how God so loved the world, as he gave himself up to the cross. They watched Jesus forgive the worst of sins and witnessed the demons driven into obscurity. Most of all, they saw Jesus humbly going to the cross to die for their sins.
   And then came the victory! They knew they had not followed an ordinary man when they experienced his resurrection and celebrated his ascension.
   The apostles understood more completely than any of us can how real, true and perfect God’s love is for us. The Savior’s passion became their passion. That’s why Paul and all of them were willing and able to give their lives entirely for the gospel.
   Can we be like this? Everything we do must be based on the strength and intimacy of our relationship with Jesus. We can become very fervent for the lost if we come to know Jesus as personally as the apostles did. No, he’s not here to sit and talk with us physically. But his Spirit is within us. Jesus’ life power is his gift to compel us to discipleship.
   With the Spirit’s help, study the Word. Pray and listen. Then go and do. Jesus and his love for the lost will become very real to you, too.
 
Your Life’s Purpose
 
Romans 11:36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.
 
ARE you wondering about your life’s purpose? Then dwell on this verse. You are among the “everything” that “comes from him.” You “exist by his power.” Theis means you are “intended for his glory” so that “all glory is to him forever.”
          A purposeful life reveals God’s goodness. God’s will is your actions, your attitude and your words inform people that God’s grace brings salvation to all who believe in him.
          Live as closely as you spiritually can to God’s ways. Countless resources today tell you how you can have happiness, peace, money, a better job and more friends. But nothing is as true and lasting as the Bible. It is the resource to know how purposefully God created you for this time and place.           

Read Romans 3:21 thru 8
 
Romans 4:25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.
 
IS there any possible way we can understand with our human mind what this sentence means?
   God “handed” his Son over to death. Think of this. What would it be like to take your child to a place of execution, so he could make your neighbors right before God? The concept is unimaginable. We would not and could not do such a thing. Our love for our neighbors would never be as strong as our love for our child.
   But that’s what God did. He purposely delivered his Son to the cross. He gave his son to his accusers and allowed him to suffer and die. What kind of Father is this?
   How good to know he is our perfect Father. His love is filled with grace, and he was willing to send his Son to die. Now you can be made right before him.
   And he is the perfect Father because he knew Jesus’ obedience to his purpose would raise Jesus to the throne of heaven to be worshiped forever. The Father handed his Son over to death, so the Spirit could deliver life to you forever.
   Are you thinking you might be too unworthy to go to God today? Do you think perhaps God doesn’t have time for you, or he doesn’t care about you? Look, then, to the cross. The cross is God’s life-bridge from death to eternity, condemnation to salvation.
 
Gift of Forever Life
 
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
WHAT a contrast in this sentence. Paul summarized his teaching in Romans 6 with this very distinct, plain sentence. He defined the difference between our natural birth and our supernatural rebirth.
   Here again, we are told eternal life is God’s gift. This is the powerful truth we find in Jesus Christ. When people talk of other religions having the same God, it is never true. No other belief or religious system offers a God who gave of himself to a cross, so he would give us eternal life. What’s more, only God gives his Spirit to help us know him. Even more, the Spirit lives within our transformed souls to reveal God’s truth. When you begin to deeply absorb the truth of God’s gift into your heart and mind, you begin to grasp what it means to worship Jesus as your Lord and Savior. God’s gift reverses your natural course toward death to become the way of life.
   If you have not yet followed Jesus into eternal life, pray to God. Admit you have done wrong. Confess you need to change. Trust Jesus to be your true way to life. Indeed, he is Life, who will give you life forever as you obey in faith.   

Read Romans 1-3:20
 
Romans 1:5-6 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.6 And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.
 
WHAT motivates you? Sometimes we do things to fulfill responsibilities in our work, to help out at home and to be in relationship with our family members. Hopefully, our activities are based on our desires to live well in peace with God and one another. Paul defines the purpose God has given him as “the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them.” Paul received God’s grace and immediately began to work under Jesus’ authority. Saved in Christ, Paul offered Jesus’ salvation to all who would listen.
   Of course, our objective is the same. Keeping quiet about our faith and the LORD God’s gracious work would be as if we knew the cure for a dreaded disease but kept it hidden. Our knowledge would do no good. Loved ones, neighbors and the world in general would suffer. Yes, God will move his gospel forward in his sovereign purpose. But to be silent is to be unfaithful to the Gift Giver and to those who need the gift.
 
Love the Good News
 
Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes – the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
 
ONCE I talked with a “good, church-going man” who had done some Jesus -like work in his church and in his community. The conversation shifted to heaven. I asked if he was sure heaven was his eternal home. “I hope so.” he replied. “If I do enough good, God will allow me to be in heaven.”
    “You know, there’s nothing you can do to be welcomed into heaven on your own work. That’s why Jesus has made the way for you through the cross.” He stopped talking and sat silent. Then I said, “Do you believe that Jesus is God’s Son and your risen Lord and Savior?” He didn’t reply.
   Should I have pursued this further? Was there something in me that rejected the Good News. Was I ashamed of, “Jesus saves”. Possibly I didn’t trust the Bible enough at that point in my life to press the good news to someone I had just met. Maybe I was too concerned about his discomfort and not concerned enough about his eternal life. Am I still now making excuses?
   Yes, God saves his own in his time. Salvation doesn’t come from us. Still, we are God’s slaves to obediently and completely trust his Good News and his Holy Word. Christ has commanded we present him to the lost. That, then, is what we must do. Our regard must be to please the LORD, not to appease the lost. 

Read 2 Corinthians 10 thru 13, Acts 20:2-3
 
2 Corinthians 13:7-9 We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won’t need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come, even if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority. 8 For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. 9 We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature.
 
WHEN someone questions if the Bible is a real document useful for our lives today, we can easily answer, “Yes, it is.” with such Scriptures as this. We know from reading 1 Corinthians that the church was experiencing many challenges. Although they had heard the gospel, had received the apostle Paul’s and others’ preaching, had committed their lives to Christ and had formed a church to worship Jesus as Lord, they had not completely abandoned their old lives. Jealousy, pride, gossiping and other sins kept the church from living in Jesus’ true blessing. This hasn’t changed, has it? The church has continued to suffer these challenges throughout its history. When Paul wrote, “We pray to God you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction.” he indicated the Corinthian church members opposed the truth. Indeed, this is a most relevant passage to consider for our lives today.
   Why is it so difficult to adjust to Jesus? Our sin nature is a very strong nature that causes us to shape God’s teachings into our own preferences. Our self-righteous mindsets flows into the church to prevent full acceptance of God’s gospel. A unified, joyful and Spirit-filled church is only possible when its members submit to Jesus as Lord of their lives. That means they don’t just say, “Jesus is Lord.” but they live out the truth Jesus is Ruler, Master, Teacher and Shepherd. Meek hearts make effective Jesus disciples. Releasing our own way for Jesus’ way may seem weak to the world, but it takes strong faith to follow Christ into his new way.
   Paul urged the church in Corinth to give up their own strength for Christ’s strength. In a mature relationship with Christ, they could grow together into a strong, effective body of faith.
   Also note that Paul did not desire to come to Corinth to correct the church. With his firm instructions, we can sometimes assume he was eager to judge the wrongs and perhaps prove his superior faith. But much of his writings tell us he regretted the discipline aspect of leading a church. He recognized his own sins, and he had to continually fight against evil as we all do. All Christians for all time must reject the world and receive Jesus day by day – a very relevant message from God’s Holy Bible.
 

​Thanks Be to God
Read 2 Corinthians 1 thru 9
 
2 Corinthians 2:13-14 But I had no peace of mind because my dear brother Titus hadn’t yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him. 14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.
 
CAN you relate to Paul? He had no peace of mind as he was concerned about Titus. Paul changed plans and adjusted to the uncertain circumstances.
   Then comes that important three-letter word. “But” is a sign the Holy Spirit awakened Paul to remember he lived in the authority of the LORD God Almighty! How wonderful to remember, “He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession.” Many might reject this view of following Jesus because it describes a conquering general leading the enemy captives under his authority. Jesus, Savior and Friend, is also the conquering King, who has captured us with his love. Saved in our confession of Jesus, we are no longer his enemies, but thankfully we are held captive in his salvation. This captivity becomes a complete freedom for the saved one. Made alive and new in Jesus, we recognize we are his servants to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere like a sweet perfume.
   Jesus also captures us in his love. Paul turned his worry to faith as he considered Jesus’ love, and so will you. To know you are saved in Jesus’ blood must be an incorruptible sweetness in our minds. In such faith, God will take us to quiet places above life’s tumult, captured in his kindness.
    
       
A Delightful Way to Live
 
2 Corinthians 6:18 “And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
 
LET’S take a minute or two and dwell on this promise. Have you stopped and considered the eternal, almighty Creator God promises to be your perfect Father? He promises to be ready and willing to love you when you’re unlovable, to guide you when you lose direction, to forgive you when you sin, to show you the way to joy and to welcome you to your eternal home as he grants you faith in Jesus Christ.
   How do we know his wonderful promises? He tells us in the gospel. This is the Good News of Jesus Christ. Do you know God, the Father, offers his love to you? Do you see God stretch his hand toward you as the Son was nailed to the cross? Go ahead, accept his love and take his nail-pierced hand. Walk with him into his holy sanctuary.
   Do you know the way there? Remember Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Focus on Jesus. He the Word made flesh. He is Alpha and Omega. He is the Light of the World, the Good Shepherd and Resurrection. Taking God’s hand is grasping Jesus’ teaching. It is seeing Jesus in creation and in God’s response to the fall. Jesus is in Noah’s ark, and he’s with Abraham on Mt. Moriah. He is the judge and healer of David’s broken soul. Jesus is the Restorer of hard hearts and healer of calloused souls.
   Jesus wants to bring you to a place where you experience his holiness. He wants you to be holy, too, safe with him. How good it is when God is your Father and you are his child.

Read 1 Corinthians 15 thru 16, Acts 19:23-20:1
 
1 Corinthians 15:1-10a Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. 2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you. Unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. 3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. 9 For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church. 10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me and not without results. 
 
PAUL wrote what each church must have in order to preach the gospel. He gave the truth.
   Paul confirmed the clear, historic evidence of Jesus risen and ascended with the evidence of many witnesses. It seems we pay too little attention to the great number of people who saw and heard Jesus from resurrection to ascension. Let’s be aware of these facts and testify to the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Holy Spirit Appoints You
 
Acts 20:22-24 And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But 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.
 
AWARE of impending imprisonment and other hardships, Paul never wavered from God’s work. This was his life now and forever. Completing God’s work can extend beyond the boundaries of physical life. Each day countless believers are saying, “Yes, Lord.” to the command, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) The Holy Spirit guides and directs. How will you know he has called you? How do you understand what he is saying?  
   As with a close friend, you will comprehend the Spirit when you become more closely connected with God. The Spirit-inspired Bible is his first communication to you. The LORD will also speak to you through people who will encourage you to specific work: “You’re a great teacher.” “You are generous and kind.” “I see you have a gift of prayer.” People will unexpectedly affirm what you are thinking about as it relates to your Christiaan life. When you pray, “LORD, how may I serve you?” God will give you a thought. It may simply be, “Call your friend today.” Or it could be, “Spend more time with me.” God will gift you with knowledge and cause you to desire the cross he has set aside for you to take up as you follow him.
   The Holy Spirit is your Helper. Be in touch, ready to listen. And go faithfully into the lives and circumstances the Spirit points you, even if it is into persecution. Many must decide this daily. Pray for the persecuted church. And pray for your own faithful obedience. Then savor your closer walk with God.  

Read 1 Corinthians 11:17 thru 14
 
1 Corinthians 14:1-3 Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives, especially the ability to prophesy. 2 For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. 3 But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.
 
YOU may think this doesn’t apply to you. Most don’t speak in tongues, and who claims to be a prophet?
   But this is about teaching God’s word, a task we all are to do. To prophesy means to foretell the future and also to speak under divine inspiration. This gift is not confined to professional preachers and perhaps some who teach regularly. To speak God’s inspired Holy Bible’s is a call to each Christian. Jesus’ command to make disciples can be fulfilled through only reading the Bible and keeping it to ourselves. We must be of faith to trust the power of God’s Word. You can begin by reading God’s Word aloud to yourself to hear how it becomes more alive. Oftentimes, one will become inspired and empowered as one speaks the Word. Gifts from God may come more clearly when you say it aloud. And remember, Jesus promised help for your testimony, “But I will send you the Advocate, the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.” (John 15:26)
   This is what happened with Peter at Pentecost and the other apostles and evangelists in the first century. No one had the gifts to prophesy before that time. Then God unleashed his power to those who stood up to speak of Jesus. The Spirit will testify through your mouth and your life, too, as you speak God’s Word. The more you say it, the more complete will be your prophesies, your teachings, from God’s Holy Word to tell of God.
   The gift of tongues is a more personal gift the Spirit uses for you to praise God. It is not given for evangelism or teaching. The “unknown” tongue is a language the person will not know. It is not unknown in the sense that no one in the world has ever spoken it. This, of course, does not build up the church for the learning of God’s Word. But it will build up the believer God has so gifted. Tongues can be a joyous gift to draw one closer to God.
   1 Corinthians 12 emphasizes each gift from God is for building the church. It is your responsibility to understand your gifts and use them. Remember, the Holy Spirit is waiting to help you.