“In Between Normals”: A 30 Day Devotion on the Book of ActsSample

A Holy Stubbornness

There was something brewing in Paul's heart. For some reason, he was determined to go to Jerusalem by Pentecost (20:16).

A Holy Stubbornness

Why such hurry? We actually don't know. The only thing we know is that Paul was "compelled by the Spirit." (20:22) Not only was Paul in a hurry, but he also knew that something bad was going to happen. The Holy Spirit had warned Paul that "prison and hardships" were waiting for him. (20:23)

But you know Paul. He was stubborn. Really stubborn. But a holy kind of stubborn. He said, "I consider my life worth nothing to me." (20:24) In a nutshell, it means "I ... don't ... care!"

A Holy Calling

Paul's single-minded goal was to "complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me." (20:24) His defiance reminds me of Frank Sinatra's song "My Way"

"For what is a man, what has he got. If not himself then he has not"

My friend, God is not asking for your time, talent, or even money. God is asking for you! Yes! You!

Remember the time when you committed your life to Christ? Remember your desire to serve Him? Remember how much you aspire to a life of service and meaning? Perhaps it's time to renew your act of worship again!

A Holy Sacrifice

Around this time, Paul the Apostle of the Holy Stubbornness wrote the Letter to the Romans. I wonder if Paul was reflecting on his journey when he urged the Romans to "offer your bodies as a living sacrifice." (Romans 12:1)

"Living sacrifice!" It means, "I am all in! You have me! I keep nothing for myself!"

I don't know God's assignment for you. Actually, it doesn't matter. What matters is that from now on, you will live your life with a new mindset. As Paul has recently written to his friends in Corinth, "whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

This single-mindedness is what God is trying to nurture in us before we reach the "new normal." In fact, this is the only "reasonable" way of worship in the Kingdom of "new normal."

Reflection:

On a scale of zero to 100, how much would you say you are an "all in" Christian? What’s keeping you from committing wholeheartedly to God?