Sharing the Wonderful Grace of God

 

Read Leviticus 22:31-33 and Acts 20

 

“Tumults or opposition may constrain a Christian to remove from his station or alter his purpose, but his work and his pleasure will be the same, wherever he goes.”
~ Matthew Henry

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application - Prayer

 

S:  “I want to finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do—to tell people the Good News about God’s grace … I never stopped reminding each one of you how you should live, counseling you day and night and crying over you …”  Acts 20:24, 31 Easy to Read Version

 

O:  The people loved Paul.  He mentored them and taught them in the Word (verses 1-2).  He would go about the churches encouraging them and often staying for months at a time to teach and instruct them (verses 3, 7).  The Spirit of the LORD spoke to Paul and helped him to discern when it was time to move to the next church or place (verse 22).  But no matter where he went the Gospel and the Good News of God’s Kingdom was his primary task (verse 25).  The hardest part perhaps for Paul was when he had to move on.  These were his spiritual children and it was with great sadness that he would have to leave them and go on to the next church or task at hand.  When he left them he would leave them in God’s care and with the hope that God’s grace would strengthen them (verses 32-35), but it was never easy (verses 36-38).

 

A:  To do the work that the LORD gives me and to continue to share the Good News of God’s grace. 

 

P:  Father God, thank You that You direct our steps through the Holy Spirit within us.  I pray that those reading and studying Your Word today would hear You speaking to them.  Encourage them about how special they are to You LORD according to Leviticus 22:31-33.  You call them out to be a special people, a treasure to You.  Help us each to finish the work(s) that You give us to do.  In Christ Jesus I pray.  Amen & Amen.

 

“It is good for friends, when they part, to part with prayer.

Those who exhort and pray for one another,

may have many weeping seasons and painful separations,

but they will meet before the throne of God, to part no more.”

 

~ Matthew Henry