Germantown UMC Devotionals

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Opening: Everyone knows that is the right thing to do. You know it; your friends know it; your spouse knows it; your parents know it; EVERYONE! But how do you feel when someone you love still does the wrong thing? How about when you, though you know the right thing to do, still do the wrong thing?

Scripture: Read Acts 21:1-16.

Insights:

Today’s passage records the end of Paul’s Third Missionary Journey with stops at various places as he makes his way to Jerusalem to report to the leaders (see Acts 15:1-31; 18:22). Note that there are believers all along his way, evidence that the Church is really spreading out.
Luke records for the second and third time that if Paul goes to Jerusalem, there will be trouble. In Acts 20:22-23, Paul said, “But now I must obey the Holy Spirit and go to Jerusalem. I don't know what will happen to me there. I know only that in every city the Holy Spirit tells me that troubles and even jail wait for me.”[1] Here in Acts 21:4 and 10-12, prophets warned him not to go to Jerusalem. But like Jesus, Paul’s mind was set: on to Jerusalem![2]
Remember Philip? He was selected along with Stephen to administer the food distribution to widows (see Acts 6:5). He became an evangelist in his own right, most notably to the Ethiopian eunuch (see Acts 8:4-41).
Fifteen years earlier, Agabus had predicted the famine in Jerusalem (see Acts 11:27-29). Christian tradition tells us that Agabus was one of the Seventy Two (see Luke 10:1-17). And as was the custom of Jewish prophets, when words were inadequate, they dramatized their message.[3]

Life Questions:

It is clear that the Holy Spirit revealed to many the difficulties Paul would encounter when he arrived in Jerusalem. Even Paul knew it, and though others warned him not to go, he did anyway. Was he being disobedient and hardheaded in insisting on going to Jerusalem? Or were his friends hoping to talk him out of going? How would you feel if Paul was your personal friend and you knew he was heading into a trap but wouldn’t listen to you?
Paul wrote to the people of Rome about the struggle to overcome sin in one’s life. Read Romans 7:14-25. We may know what we should do, yet we at times do the opposite. It is the experience of God-followers throughout history. Yet Paul comes to the conclusion that our answer to this turmoil is Jesus (see Romans7:24-25)!

Prayer Focus: That we would not only know what God wants us to do, and that we would do it, not matter what the consequences might be.

[1] Acts 20:22-23 (NCV)

[2] Matthew 16:21; 20:17-19; Mark 10:32-34

[3] See 1 Kings 11:29-31; Isaiah 20:3-4; Jeremiah 13:1-11; 27:2; Ezekiel 4; 5:1-4.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Opening: What was the hardest job you ever had to do, one that seemed too big to accomplish when you were first charged with it? A huge assignment at work? An overwhelming project at school or home? Eliminating a monster debt? Going through a difficult disease, ailment, injury, or rehabilitation?

Scripture: Sunday’s message is our text today. Read Luke 10:1-17 and Galatians 5:6,13-14.

Insights:

Jesus sends out the Seventy-Two (Seventy in some manuscripts) with specific instructions:

1. Go out with a partner. No “Lone Rangers” in ministry.

2. Don’t take any extra money, clothes, even shoes (imagine that ladies!).

3. Bring peace and blessings to those who welcome you.

4. Accept the hospitality of those you stay with.

5. Heal the sick.

6. Proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God.

7. Don’t stew over rejection – shake it off.

8. The message – accepted or rejected – is always focused on Jesus.

The Seventy-Two returned from their mission with incredible news: even demons obeyed.
In Galatians, Paul is clear: what is important is faith and service in love. In our First Sunday – Spiritual Gifts class, we teach that a visible act of service, done in love, makes a Kingdom impact. Otherwise, what we have done is worthless (see 1 Corinthians 13:1-3)!

Life Questions:

What if your name was on the list of Seventy-Two? Which of the eight duties Jesus gave the Seventy-Two would be frightening? What would your reaction be? Would it be based on your own ability or based on the knowledge that you go in the name of Jesus?
What is your “Love-Level” in your service? Are you doing something in the church or representing the church that comes out of our love for God and love for people? If you are burned out, could it be your “Love-Level” is low? What could you do to increase your “Love-Level?”

Prayer Focus: For tomorrow’s worship celebration, that we would truly and meaningfully worship the Christ who calls us and sends us out in love.

Message Series: “Send Me.”

Tomorrow’s Message Title: “…To Make a Difference”

Friday, October 19, 2012

Opening: Ever been to a “Going Away” party? For a service man or woman? For a retiring co-worker? For a pastor or church family that is moving away? What is it like?

Scripture: Read Acts 20:17-38.

Insights:

Verse 16 indicates that Paul was once again in a hurry to get back to Jerusalem for the Festival of Pentecost (the birthday of the Church). But he could not pass by without stopping to share one last time with his beloved congregation at Ephesus.
Back in Acts 18:9-10, the Lord spoke to Paul, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.”[1] Now in Acts 20:22-23, he has received a different message: go to Jerusalem and face incarceration. But Paul was undeterred. His single-minded purpose was to tell others about Christ (see Philippians 3:7-13). It is no wonder that Paul was the greatest missionary who ever lived.
Paul’s solemn charge to the people of Ephesus in verse 28 was this:

1. Be alert. Spiritual leaders need first of all to guard their own spiritual and moral purity.

2. They had a duty to shepherd God’s flock. Care for them, love them, teach them, protect them – just as Paul had done.

3. This duty came from the Holy Spirit, and was purchased by Jesus’ very blood. It is a big deal!

Life Questions:

Paul has absolutely clear about his purpose: evangelism. God is looking for more men and women who will focus on that one great task God has given them to do. Do you know what your task is? If not, have you prayed about it, studied and meditated on Scripture, talked with mature believers, learned everything you can to find out? If not, why?
What would you say to your Christian mentor, pastor, teacher, if you knew that you would never see them again?

Prayer Focus: That we would clearly know God’s purposes for our lives and our church.

[1] Acts 18:9-10 (NLT)

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Opening: What you ever pulled an all-nighter, either in college or on the job? Maybe waiting up for news or just couldn’t go to sleep?

Scripture: Read Acts 20:1-16.

Insights:

After sending Timothy and Erastus ahead to Macedonia (see Acts 19:22), Paul followed.
Verse 4 is the first time we know who was with Paul on this Third Missionary Journey. In the first journey, it was Paul and Barnabas; in the second, it was Paul and Silas. Now Luke lists seven men (he omits Erastus) from various cities of previous missionary journeys. Most are mentioned only here, except for:

1. We know that Trophimus eventually went to Jerusalem, where he was the innocent cause of the tumult in which Paul was apprehended. Certain Jews from the district of Asia saw the two missionaries together and supposed that Paul had taken Trophimus into the Temple (see Acts 21:27-29). In 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul writes that he had left Trophimus in ill health in Miletus.

2. While Trophimus went with Paul to Jerusalem, Tychicus was left behind in Asia, probably at Miletus (see Acts 20:15,38). Tychicus was with Paul during his first imprisonment (Colossians 4:7-8; Ephesians 6:21-22). The next reference to him is in Titus 3:12, where Paul (possibly writing from Ephesus) says he may send Tychicus to Crete while he goes to Nicopolis. In 2 Timothy 4:12 (written at Rome during the second imprisonment), he says, “I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.” Tychicus probably was associated with Titus (2 Corinthians 8:16-24) in conducting the business of the collection for the poor Christians in Judea.

Note that Luke has rejoined Paul’s team in verse 5.
Wow, you thought Gary preached long! The story has a touch of humor with a happy ending.

1. All this happened at night. That is probably because it was only at night, when the day’s work was done, that slaves could come to the Christian fellowship. That also explains the case of Eutychus.

2. In the low upper room it was hot because of the “many lamps.” Eutychus, no doubt, had done a hard day’s work before ever he came and his body was tired. He was sitting by a window to get the cool night air. The windows were not made of glass. They were either lattice or solid wood and opened like doors, coming right down almost to the floor and projecting over the courtyard below.

3. The etymology of the name Eutychus is “lucky, fortunate.” He was probably between the ages of 8 to 14 years old (the age of a “young man”).

4. The tired Eutychus, overpowered by the stuffy atmosphere, succumbed to sleep and fell to the courtyard below. But it was his “luck” that Paul was there to raise him from the dead.

Life Questions:

Twice in this passage is mentioned that the people meet to “break bread”: on the first day of the week (Sunday), and then the next day. This could have been a church potluck, but most probably means Holy Communion. Clearly it was important to the early believers. Likewise, John Wesley encouraged his followers to take communion as often as possible. What do you think when you come to worship and the bulletin says, “Holy Communion?” Long service? Paul told the Corinthians, “Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup you are telling others about the Lord’s death until he comes.”[1] That is something to celebrate!

Prayer Focus: Lord, keep us awake (physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually) to hear Your message for us.

[1] 1 Corinthians 11:26 (NCV)