Saturday, May 5
Movement of the Spirit
Narrative Lectionary Daily Devotions written by Kace Leetch from Clergy Stuff.
Paul has been through a lot. (If you have time, read through the Acts, chapters 24-28 -- it's really quite unbelievable!) After appealing to the courts to be tried by the emperor, being sent by ship to Rome, and surviving a shipwreck, he was finally testifying before the emperor in Rome. He spent much time talking with officials there about Christ and about his travels and ministry. He was allowed to settle there for a time, where he continued to speak and preach about Christ. It looked like his legal troubles were over. For now.
Sometimes our life's mission can take us to places we never thought it would or could. One of the most satisfying things in life is becoming open to the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Being willing to do things we never thought we could. Taking leaps of faith. Talking to strangers. Learning new things. Traveling to new places. The Holy Spirit can move us in ways we couldn't have imagined to do things we couldn't have dreamed of. How might you make yourself open to the movement of the Spirit?
Narrative Lectionary Text: Acts 28:23-31
After they had set a day to meet with him, they came to him at his lodgings in great numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. Some were convinced by what he had said, while others refused to believe. So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah, ‘Go to this people and say, You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn— and I would heal them.’ Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”
He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.