“When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.” Acts 18:5
“But on taking his leave of them he said, ‘I will return to you if God wills, and he said sail from Ephesus.” Acts 18:21
As we begin the long and laboring process of the election process for a new president in the US. We find 16 candidates on the Republican side, with more to come, plus many who will run on both Democratic as well as independent tickets. Question, “What would be the driving force that led someone to want to run for president?”
The fact is, the job is 24/7 life in a fishbowl where you know at any given time more and more pressure is applied. Years ago I read President George W. Bush autobiography in which he answered the question of why like this, “I love my country and I believed I was the one who could make a difference.”
Question: “What drives you and I?” If we asked this question to the Apostle Paul, I believe he would give us this answer, “All I do, is for the glory of the Lord,” I Corinthians 10:31. I believe the New Testament chronicles how his life back’s this up.
Acts 18 is an example of this driving force in his life. I believe we see two clear markers that serve as book ends on Paul’s daily life:
- Daily Paul was occupied with the Word of God, Vs: 5
The Word encouraged, equipped, confronted, and empowered Paul. We see an example of the encouragement in this very chapter, “And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will harm you, for I have many people in this city,” Acts 18:9-10
- Daily Paul was occupied with the will of God, Vs: 21
Paul was led by the Spirit which often provoke his own spirit in God’s direction for his every day.
Think it through:
These two markers must become the book ends of our lives as well. Each day we should begin by reading God’s Word. That’s the left book end of our lives. Then we must say to God, “I live to do your will.” This is the right book end in your live. In between the book ends is your daily life.
Could it be this simply, “Yes.” But it is hard to live every day within these book ends because we sometimes fail to take time to read. Let our response be simply, “I will read God’s Word before I begin each day!!!”