LookingtoJesus

October 4

Bible Reading: Acts 19:28-41

Acts 19:29, “So the city was filled with the confusion.”

Life in Ephesus revolved around a mythical goddess.  They prayed to her, appealed to her, and did what they could to appease her, so that she might bless them.  And some made a profit from her.  There were craftsmen, like Demetrius, who worked “to make silver shrines of Artemis” (Acts 19:24).  There was money to be made in the selling of little Diana’s, so Demetrius understood what was at stake in Paul’s preaching of the gospel.  Life in the city revolved around the worship of their mythical god, but, as Demetrius presciently realized, Paul had worked to turn many away from idol worship (Acts 19:26).  Artemis was no god.  She had no ears to hear, no hands to bless.  She was a devilish invention of sin that worked to hold the people in bondage to a futile way of life.

A riot ensued when the people realized the threat to their adored but mythical deity.  Demetrius was concerned lest, “the great goddess Artemis…be counted as nothing, and…may even be deposed from her magnificence, who whom all Asia and the world worship” (Acts 19:27).  The enraged people heeded his concern and cried out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians” (Acts 19:28).  “The city was filled with confusion” (Acts 19:29).  Most didn’t have any idea what was going on (Acts 19:32).  Alexander attempted to speak, but “for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians” (Acts 19:34).  But she wasn’t great.  She didn’t even exist.

The town clerk eventually came forward and quieted the crowd.  He assured them that the city would do everything necessary to protect the goddess and her sacred stone.  But Demetrius and the Artemis worshippers had a legitimate reason for concern.  Artemis was but a myth and her grandiose temple was just an edifice to an illusion. 

Sin and its associated idols are not easily pried from the hearts of lost sinners.  The Apostle Paul would ultimately spend three years in Ephesus (Acts 20:31), preaching the powerful-to-save gospel in the shadow of the great but idolatrous temple (Romans 1:16).  Paul spoke of the true God who sent His Son who died for sins and rose from the dead to save lost sinners (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).  Some ultimately abandoned Diana to find true salvation in the “living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9).  Nothing but ruins remain at the site of the temple of Artemis, but the powerful-to-save gospel is being preached to this day.  Artemis has long since lost her appeal, but the glorious gospel—a true wonder in this world—shines on.

The gospel alone has the power to save from the worship of vain things that we might know and worship the true and living God!

GOD AND GOD ALONE
God and God alone,
Created all these things we call our own;
From the mighty to the small,
The glory in them all
Is God’s and God’s alone.

God and God alone
Reveals the truth of all we call unknown.
And the best and worst of man,
Won’t change the Master’s plan,
It’s God’s and God’s alone.

God and God alone
Is fit to take the universe’s throne.
Let everything that lives,
Reserves its truest praise
For God and God alone.

God and God alone
Will be the joy of our eternal home.
He will be our one desire,
Our hearts will never tire,
Of God and God alone.

Let everything that lives,
Reserves its truest praise
For God and God alone.

Steve Green; Copyrighted by Sparrow Records and Universal Music Group; Lyrics by Phill McHugh

October 3

Bible Reading: Acts 19:21-27

Acts 19:27, “And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”

Ephesus was home to the temple of Artemis (Diana).  It was one of the Seven Wonders of the World.  According to one historian, it took 220 years to build the temple.  It was 425 feet long and 225 feet wide.  127 Greek columns surrounded the temple each bearing sculpted reliefs up to the high of a man’s head.  The building was the largest temple in history.  But Artemis was not real. She was only a myth.

Artemis herself was a goddess universally worshipped throughout the Greek world.  Her sphere was the uncultivated earth, the forests, and the hills.  Homer gave her the title, “lady of the wild things.”  Regarded to be “the goddess of birth,” she was popular amongst women.  Girls who served in her temple did so in short skirts with one breast bare.  Coins and images depicted her with multiple breasts, and people believed she was a source of fertility.  But she was only a fable.

“The city of Ephesians (was) the temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky” (Acts 19:35).  The people believed in the sacred stone, which must have been a meteor.  Someone likely took the stone and carved it into the likeness of the goddess that they then worshipped.  Every year a huge month-long celebration in honor of Diana took place in Ephesus.  Thousands of worshippers from the ends of the earth came to the celebration.  All businesses were closed, all work ceased, and the people gave themselves to the celebration of the goddess’s birthday.  But the meteor was nothing but a rock, hardly deserving of worship or reproduction by craftsmen.  Though but a man-invented myth, Artemis captured the hearts and minds of a multitude of people.  They worshipped her. 

The Apostle John warned of the need to guard oneself from idols (1 John 5:21).  An idol is anything placed above God in our heart.  Though not even real, Diana captivated the hearts of an entire region.  But God alone is worthy of our worship!  The world is full of would-be gods that vie for your attention. What captivates your heart?  Is it Jesus?

An idol is anything placed above God in our heart.  But God alone is worthy of our worship!

FAIREST LORD JESUS
Fairest Lord Jesus!
Ruler of all nature!
O Thou of God and man the Son!
Thee will I cherish,
Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown!

Fair are the meadows
Fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus is fairer,
Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing!

Fair is the sunshine,
Fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry host;
Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer,
Than all the angels heav’n can boast!

October 2

Bible Reading: Acts 19:11-20

Acts 19:18-19, “Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.  And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.”

These new believers had been involved in spiritism.  Then the Spirit worked to both convict them of sin and open their eyes to the glory of Jesus.  That their faith in Jesus was genuine was evidenced in their readiness to confess and abandon their previous practices.  No doubt they had treasured their “books” (little papyrus rolls that were inscribed with magical formulas and spells), but readily destroyed them all in view of the “surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:8). 

“Fifty thousand pieces of silver” was the equivalent of 50,000 workdays or about $10,000 in today’s economy.  They could have sold them, but they now deemed them evil and decided instead to burn them all.  They “counted them as rubbish” as compared to the treasure they now possessed in Jesus.  Prior to being saved, we all had things in our lives that required forsaking.  If you are like me, those old patterns die off slowly and too often seem to resurrect themselves.  But don’t be discouraged, for the Spirit is always working to open our eyes to the glory of Jesus, so that we can rightly appraise what truly matters, and forsake that which doesn’t!

C. T. Studd was an All-England cricket star who lived from 1862 to 1931. In his college days, he gave up a professional career as a cricket player to become a missionary.  His decision to abandon fortune and fame and join Hudson Taylor in China shocked his family.  While serving in China, at 25, he inherited an enormous fortune from his father (equivalent to several million dollars today). He felt compelled by the Lord to give all of his fortune away for the cause of Christ. “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him,” Studd said. He gave God his fortune.  Likewise, we all have things that are better left behind, as we press on in our journey with Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2)!

“What is all the fame and flattery worth when a man comes to face eternity? I know that cricket would not last, and honor would not last, and nothing in this world would last, but it was worthwhile living for the world to come.”—C. T. Studd

I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow,
Tho’ none go with me I still will follow,
Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry till I see Jesus,
My cross I’ll carry till I see Jesus;
No turning back, No turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

October 1

Bible Reading: Acts 19:8-10

Acts 19:9, “But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation.”

My dear Ugandan friend, Pastor Henry, serves as pastor of People of the Way Church.  I preached in his church on several occasions.  The building was austere, having a dirt floor and open doors and windows, but the people inside were beautiful, in their warm fellowship and heart-felt worship.  The people of the People of the Way church are people of The Way, as are all who follow Jesus.

In the book of Acts, “The Way” is a term used repeatedly to refer to believers (Acts 9:2, 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22). The Bible frequently employs such terminology.  The prophet Isaiah wrote, “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left (Isaiah 30:21).”  Jesus likewise spoke of a broad way leading to destruction and a narrow way leading to life (Matthew 7:13-14).  He designated Himself to be the only way unto the Father (John 14:6).  We are people of the way because we follow in the steps of Jesus along a path that He established and prescribed, that had led to salvation, and then onto all the blessings associated with walking with Him.

J. C. Philpot has commented on this, “Every part of the way was devised and is executed by the love of his tender heart… But we are continually turning aside ‘to the right hand’ or ‘to the left.’ There is that cowardice in the heart which cannot bear the cross; there is that slipping into carnal ease and fleshly security, so as to get away from under the painful cross of affliction and suffering. But when we thus turn aside ‘to the right hand’ or ‘to the left,’ the voice the Lord sends after us is, ‘This is the way’–the way of affliction; no other; the way of tribulation, the way of trial, the way of exercise. This is the way in which the King walked of old; and this is the way in which all his people have walked before him and after him; for this is the only path in which the footsteps of the flock can be found.”

People of The Way follow in the footsteps of Jesus (1 Peter 2:21).

LIVING FOR JESUS
Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Refrain:
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
Bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all. [Refrain]

Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross. [Refrain]

Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him. [Refrain]

September 30

Bible Reading: Acts 19:1-7

Acts 19:2, “And they said, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

Biblical Christianity is not merely a religion where individuals strive to earn God’s favor through specific actions or behaviors. Instead, it is a dynamic relationship characterized by walking in the Spirit, where believers are led and empowered to achieve things beyond their own capabilities, all for the glory of God.

In His farewell address, Jesus reassured His disciples with news of the Holy Spirit’s arrival. Jesus emphasized that His departure would ultimately benefit the disciples, as it would pave the way for the Spirit’s arrival (John 16:7). The Holy Spirit would mediate Jesus’ presence, working both in and through the disciples (John 16:14-15). His presence and transformative power would be so profound that Jesus described it as “rivers of living water” flowing from the hearts of believers (John 7:38-39).

Jesus left His disciples with a mandate to bear witness to Him to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). However, fulfilling this mission was contingent on the empowerment of the promised Holy Spirit. The early church, as described in the book of Acts, exemplified this empowerment, boldly spreading the gospel and turning the world upside-down for good (Acts 17:6).

In his travels, the Apostle Paul encountered disciples who had not yet received the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-2). Despite their professed faith, they were unaware of the Spirit’s existence. Paul discerned that while they were engaging in Christian practices, they were doing so without the Spirit’s leading and empowerment. This scenario is not unique to them; it serves as a reminder that every true believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but the crucial question for the believer in Christ is: Are you yielded to the Spirit’s influence? The question is not “Do you have the Spirit?” but “Does the Spirit have you?” and to what extent is He free to work in our lives according to His wisdom, love, and power (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:16)?

The question for the genuine believer is not “Do you have the Spirit?” but “Does the Spirit have you?”

THE COMFORTER HAS COME
O spread the tidings ’round
Wherever man is found,
Wherever human hearts and human woes abound;
Let every Christian tongue proclaim the joyful sound:
The Comforter has come!

Refrain:
The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from heaven, the Father’s promise given;
O spread the tidings ’round wherever man is found:
The Comforter has come!

The long, long night is past, the morning breaks at last,
And hushed the dreadful wail and fury of the blast,
As o’er the golden hills the day advances fast!
The Comforter has come! [Refrain]

Lo, the great King of kings with healing in His wings,
To every captive soul a full deliverance brings;
And through the vacant cells the song of triumph rings;
The Comforter has come! [Refrain]

O boundless Love divine! how shall this tongue of mine
To wondering mortals tell the matchless grace divine:
That I, a child of hell, should in His image shine!
The Comforter has come! [Refrain]

September 27

Bible Reading: Acts 18:24-28

Acts 18:26, “He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.”

There is an old proverb that says: “He who knows not and knows not he knows not: he is a fool—shun him. He who knows not and knows he knows not: he is simple—teach him. He who knows and knows not he knows: he is asleep—wake him. He who knows and knows he knows: he is wise—follow him.” From a Biblical perspective, this proverb might be better expressed as: “He who knows and is teachable because he realizes that there is much more to learn: he is the truly wise man—listen to him.” From a spiritual viewpoint, regardless of how much we know, there is always room to grow (Ephesians 3:14-19; 4:13).

Apollos is a prime example of someone who had knowledge but retained a teachable spirit. Unlike the disciples, who had no formal education, he was knowledgeable and well versed in literature and the arts.  He was “competent in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24) and had been “instructed in the way of the Lord” (Acts 18:25).  Being “fervent in spirit” (Acts 18:25), he taught with much enthusiasm. But he knew only of “the baptism of John” (Acts 18:25) and was likely unaware of other significant post-resurrection teachings.

When Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos’s teaching in the synagogue, they recognized that something was amiss. Instead of denouncing him publicly, they chose a more considerate approach. They “took him aside” and privately “explained to him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26). Apollos was receptive to their guidance and grew to be a significant asset to the believers. Priscilla and Aquila’s intervention worked to better equip Apollos for his ministry.

The process of passing on knowledge is a vital aspect of spiritual growth. Paul shared truth with Priscilla and Aquila, who in turn imparted what they knew to Apollos, who then shared it with others (2 Timothy 2:2). Every believer should strive to understand “the way of God more accurately.” Since no one can know everything, we depend on the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:12-13), as we speak the truth in love that we might all grow (Ephesians 4:15-16). A teachable spirit is essential to this continuous process.

Since Christ is the standard, no matter how much you know, there’ll always be more room to grow!

TEACH ME THY WAY
Teach me thy way, O Lord; teach me thy way!
Thy guiding grace afford; teach me thy way!
Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight;
lead me with heav’nly light; teach me thy way!

When I am sad at heart, teach me thy way!
When earthly joys depart, teach me thy way!
In hours of loneliness, in times of dire distress,
in failure or success, teach me thy way!

When doubts and fears arise, teach me thy way!
When storms o’erspread the skies, teach me thy way!
Shine thro’ the cloud and rain, thro’ sorrow, toil, and pain;
make thou my pathway plain; teach me thy way!

Long as my life shall last, teach me thy way!
Where’er my lot be cast, teach me thy way!
Until the race is run, until the journey’s done,
until the crown is won, teach me thy way!

September 26

Bible Reading: Acts 18:22-23

Acts 18:23, “After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.”

Widely regarded as the world’s strongest man, Icelander Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson once lifted over 1000 lbs. in the deadlift. How did he gain such strength?  As a teen, Hafþór gained strength through daily exercise, combining basic movements (push-ups, chin-ups, and sit-ups) with working at his grandfather’s farm during summers and lifting natural stones in the wilderness.  He gained strength through personal discipline in the exertion of an exercise regimen.

In the spiritual realm, none of us is strong by nature, though God wills us to be.  The command to “be strong” can only be realized “in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:10), and His Word plays a major role in that.  God has prescribed a “body building” plan for the church.  He has provided gifted men to the church “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13), that we might all grow up into Christlike maturity (Ephesians 4:14).  Apart from such growth, we are doomed to remain spiritual weaklings, “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Ephesians 4:14).  Who wants to be bullied about like that?  The only remedy is to commit oneself to God’s plan in enjoining oneself to the church in its body building efforts.

The Apostle Paul went from church to church, “strengthening all the disciples” (Acts 18:23).  The idea behind the term used for “strengthening” is to stabilize something by providing a support, so that it will not totter.  Paul didn’t want those churches or individuals to fail.  Spiritually speaking, he wanted them to be so firmly established in the Lord that they could withstand any of the inward or external assaults they would undoubtedly encounter.  He strengthened them by way of teaching them the truth.  And it’s no different for any of us.  It is by the truth of God’s word that we are made strong.  And just as with Hafþór, that involves personal discipline in engaging in fellowship and maintaining a steady healthy diet with regards to the Word. 

“So the first reason for studying Scripture is that it is a means of spiritual growth. There is none apart from the Word.” – Howard Hendricks

HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake!

September 25

Bible Reading: Acts 18:12-21

Acts 18:21, “But on taking leave of them he said, ‘I will return to you if God wills,’ and he set sail from Ephesus.”

I regularly take Muki to the park. She adores car rides, sitting in the passenger seat with her head out the window and occasionally pawing at my arm, signaling for a belly rub. It wouldn’t make sense to switch roles—she doesn’t know how to drive or navigate. I’m her guide, and she’s content to follow wherever I lead. Reflecting on this dynamic, I thought about my own life and decisions: who is really in the driver’s seat? Am I guided by God’s will, or am I driving on my own terms?

When departing from Ephesus, Paul said, “I will return to you if God wills” (Acts 18:21). Notice that he didn’t consult his calendar, seek approval from the missionary committee, or poll his friends. He expressed his desire to return but left the decision entirely to God’s direction. Paul was committed to following God’s will, no matter where it led him. Later, he emphasized the importance of this perspective, describing God’s will to be “good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

It’s been said that a believer’s success equates to knowing and doing God’s will. But how can we discern it? The Word of God, the inner prompting of the Spirit, wise counsel, and even circumstances all play a role. Yet none of these matter if our hearts aren’t fully engaged (Romans 12:1). James warns against planning for the future without first seeking God’s guidance, calling such an approach arrogant. He reminds us, “Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:15). Though thought-provoking and convicting, this was Paul’s approach, and the impact of his obedience to God’s will is evident in the spiritual prosperity he helped bring to so many lives.

“The will of God — nothing less, nothing more, nothing else.” ― F.E. Marsh

TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE
Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.

Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.

Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.

Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee.

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]

September 23

Bible Reading: Acts 18:1-4

Acts 18:3, “Because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.”

Our family once tent-camped at the Deschutes River State Park, located at the mouth of the Deschutes River. The Columbia River Gorge is known for its strong winds, and on that occasion, the gusts seemed so fierce that they might lift our tent off the ground. Tents, being temporary structures, are vulnerable to the elements and limited in their ability to provide comfort and shelter.  Across the river from Deschutes River State Park lies the Maryhill Museum of Art. We once visited the museum, which was built to endure for “1000 years.” Despite its impressive stature, the Maryhill Museum is not immune to the disturbing and decaying forces that affect all creation (Romans 8:21; 2 Peter 1:4). But God has marvelously provided, through Jesus, a means through which the believer will one day exchange the earthly tent, which is our body, for the glorious mansion He’s prepared for us in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1).

Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla, making tents.  In those days, tent-makers used knives and awls to cut and sew together tents made of animal hair, leather, or linen. Despite his lofty role as the Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul labored doing the menial task of tent-making. Paul made tents so that He could fulfill that mission, just as many labor in “tent-making” jobs even today so that they can afford to preach the word.  He labored and endured much, motivated by his desire to “preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8).  He not only preached about Jesus to churches, but he also wrote many epistles to the churches to instruct and encourage them in that regard.

Ancient letter writing was neither cheap nor easy.  There was papyrus and ink to buy, and labor involved in composition.  Some estimate the costs associated with preparing Paul’s letter to the Romans to be over $2,000.  The money had to come from somewhere, and tent-making helped Paul to gain the funds. Paul labored making tents to move people, by way of trusting in Jesus, from their earthly tents into mansions in heaven.  Paul’s epistles, now available to you in your own Bible, originated from his personal sacrifice because he longed for you to know Jesus and encounter the riches that can only be found in Him.  Remember that as you read God’s Word, for many, like Paul, labored hard and sacrificed much to avail the riches of truth to you!

Paul labored making tents, so you could one day trade in your tent for a mansion.

MANSION OVER THE HILLTOP
I’m satisfied with just a cottage below,
A little silver and a little gold;
But in that city where the ransomed will shine,
I want a gold one that’s silver-lined.

Refrain:
I’ve got a mansion just over the hilltop,
In that bright land where we’ll never grow old;
And someday yonder we will never more wander,
But walk the streets that are purest gold.

Tho’ often tempted, tormented and tested
And, like the prophet, my pillow a stone,
And tho’ I find here no permanent dwelling,
I know He’ll give me a mansion my own. [Refrain]

Don’t think me poor or deserted or lonely,
I’m not discouraged, I’m heaven bound;
I’m just a pilgrim in search of a city,
I want a mansion, a harp and a crown. [Refrain]