KEPT SAFE BY GOD

November 1

Bible Reading: Acts 23:23-35

Acts 23:23-24, “Then he called two of the centurions and said, ‘Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor’.”

The question was not whether Paul would escape the plot formed against him, for Jesus already assured him that he would testify in Rome.  The question was how it would come to pass?

God sovereignly enlisted Roman soldiers to ensure Paul’s safety.  The commander called to him two of the centurions and gave them orders.  He knew that he would be held accountable for Paul, a Roman citizen, if anything happened to him.  So, Paul was to be escorted by 470 soldiers on his way to Caesarea.  No band of 40 Jewish zealots would be so foolhardy to attack that small army! 

The Lord had previously appeared to Paul and spoke to him reassuring words (Acts 23:11).  God would take care of him!  In living for Jesus and serving Jesus, Paul experienced the divine hand of God’s protection. God could have used any number of ways to deliver Paul to Caesarea, but he chose to use the Roman army, reminding us that God sometimes works in mysterious ways to accomplish His plan. 

One wonders about Paul’s influence on those soldiers.  No doubt he availed himself of opportunities to share his faith.  Some likely witnessed the commotion he had caused and wondered.  How many heard the gospel?  How many trusted in Jesus?

dangerPaul’s time in Jerusalem was filled with turmoil, and his life sometimes appeared to be in jeopardy.  But he was never truly in danger because of the faithfulness of God.  God works on behalf of his people to protect and provide.  “No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you.”

“Safety does not depend on our conception of the absence of danger.  Safety is found in God’s presence, in the center of His perfect will.”—T. J. Bach

GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU
Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath his wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.

Refrain:
God will take care of you,
through ev’ry day, o’er all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you. [Refrain]

No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon his breast,
God will take care of you. [Refrain]

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Author: looking2jesus13

Jerry Conklin, born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon, served six years in the US Navy Submarine service. After earning a degree in Nuclear Technology, he worked at Trojan Nuclear Plant as a reactor operator. In 1990, after earning a Masters Degree in Theology, he became the senior pastor of Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Astoria for 27 years, also serving as a fire department chaplain and making nine trips to Uganda for ministry work. After his wife’s cancer diagnosis, they moved to Heppner. Since 2021, he has served as the part-time hospice chaplain for Pioneer Hospice. In 2023 he helped establish South Morrow County Seniors Matter (SMCSM) and now serves at the board chairman. In February 2025 Jerry was honored as Heppner’s Man of the Year. In March 2025 Jerry was honored by US Senator Jeff Merkley for his work with SMCSM. Jerry and Laura have four children and three grandchildren.

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