September 24
Bible Reading: Acts 18:5-11
Acts 18:9-10, “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.”
As a hospice chaplain, a passage I often turn to when sitting with those nearing the end of life is Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” I’ve witnessed it many times…Illness may have slowly robbed you of your health. Life, once vibrant, now gently ebbs away. You are bed-bound, your strength fading, and one by one, the plans and hopes you once held dear have slipped from your grasp. The prospect of a last farewell to loved ones draws near. In days past, you made your own choices, forged your own path. But now, you find yourself obligated to follow a challenging path towards an unseen destination. It is an unfamiliar journey, and yet, if you have Jesus, you do not walk it alone. There’s comfort in knowing that He walks with you. Often, I pray with this reality in mind, asking God to comfort the patient in the awareness of His presence, as He works to bring them safely home to His heavenly kingdom (2 Timothy 4:18).
God reminded Paul of these twin truths—He need not fear because God was with him. By this point in the Acts account, Paul had already faced many fearful challenges. He’d been shunned, opposed, threatened, abused, stoned, reviled, beaten, and imprisoned; not to mention the other trials he experienced along the way simply for preaching about Jesus. Other greater threats lie on the horizon, but the Lord had a message for him: “Do not be afraid…for I am with you” (Acts 18:9)! Keep on speaking. I’ve got others in this city who will stand alongside you.
Someone has pointed out that the Bible contains the command “do not fear,” in one manner or another, some 365 times, once for every day in a year. Do not fear, for God is with you! He was there with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. He was there with the disciples when the storms threatened to sink their boat. And he was there with the Apostle Paul on his missionary journeys amidst all the ongoing opposition and threats he faced. Take courage then, for you also face threats and opposition. You’ve set your course to live for Jesus and share His truth. Remember that you are not alone, for the Lord walks with you and He can well keep you safe along the way.
“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.”—The Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 4:18)
LIKE A RIVER GLORIOUS
Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace,
over all victorious in its bright increase:
perfect, yet still flowing fuller every day;
perfect, yet still growing deeper all the way.
Refrain:
Trusting in the Father, hearts are fully blest,
finding, as he promised, perfect peace and rest.
Hidden in the hollow of his mighty hand,
where no harm can follow, in his strength we stand.
We may trust him fully all for us to do;
those who trust him wholly find him wholly true. [Refrain]
LookingtoJesus 