Demetrius was a silversmith in Ephesus during Paul’s time there. He made silver shrines to the god, Artemis, and brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. In this verse, Demetrius is explaining to other craftsmen and laborers that Paul’s evangelism in the region has led many to turn from idols and follow Jesus. This impacted their business, and Demetrius was not happy about it. Demetrius wanted to keep people from leaving their idols to worship the one true God.
Just because we’ve made the decision to follow Jesus doesn’t mean we aren’t tempted to follow other gods. It’s important to be aware of idols in our lives that compete for our time and devotion to Christ. Some are very obvious, and others can be more subtle. When our thoughts, affections, and actions are dominated by things or even people, we should take a pause and allow God to speak to us about it.
If you’re not an animal lover, don’t judge me. I’m a nurturer by nature and love animals. A number of years ago, I’d gotten a new puppy. She was the most precious of dogs and loved me unconditionally. In the first year I had her, I grew increasingly attached and soon found myself turning down opportunities to be out with people and even ministry opportunities because I hated to leave her home alone. One day, I felt the Lord’s gentle reprimand and caution. I knew what He was saying. This dog that was once a blessing was becoming an idol. I placed more value on her and her needs than on people that God wanted me to spend time with. I repented for allowing her a position in my life that He never intended her to have. I was then able to enjoy her for many more years, but there was a balance and Godly order to her position in my life. I was also able to move forward in freedom and enjoy many divine appointments that God had planned for me.
What occupies your mind and your time? Ask the Lord to show you if there is anything or anyone competing with your devotion to Jesus and the kingdom work He has for you. He will show you. We will never regret laying down idols for our King.
This scripture is referring to Paul’s fervent desire to see the gospel spread throughout the region. He had received God’s call and let nothing prevent him from going after it. He lived with purpose.
Walking with God is life’s greatest adventure. We have many things in our lives to enjoy: family, meaningful careers, fulfilling hobbies, to name a few. But the longer we walk with Jesus, the more we realize we were created to know Him and help others do the same. What a miracle and mystery, this life of discovery that revolves around our incredible Creator and the Lover of our souls. He designed each of us specifically for this time in history (Acts 17:26), and walking in His purposes will fulfill us far more than we can imagine.
Lord, we want to know you more. Help us to watch and listen for You working in our lives and the lives of those around us. May we look for opportunities during our everyday coming and going to share Your love with others.
One of the most beautiful gifts from God is the gift of repentance. It impacts us personally, and it impacts those around us. A holy reverence brought these believers into conviction over their practice of sorcery. They repented at great financial cost and did so publicly, which influenced many for the Kingdom of God.
Many times, the Lord will draw us to repentance privately as He works on the condition of our hearts. But sometimes, He draws us to openly repent before others. Rest assured, God is intentional in all of His ways, and there is purpose in both.
Oswald Chambers said it so well, “The foundation of Christianity is repentance. Strictly speaking, a person cannot repent when he chooses – repentance is a gift of God. The old Puritans used to pray for ‘the gift of tears’. If you ever cease to understand the value of repentance, you allow yourself to remain in sin. Examine yourself to see if you have forgotten how to be truly repentant.”
What is God asking you to lay down today? Remember that He supplies the power to do it. What is your response to Him?
There’s no doubt, Paul’s zeal to see the Kingdom of God advance should inspire us all. His complete surrender to God empowered him to live his life propelled by the purpose of seeing Christ made known. Whether we are new to Christ or have walked with Jesus for many years, the starting line is surrendering to His lordship, and that’s a daily choice we all make.
If you’ve enjoyed watching the winter Olympics lately, you’ve seen many athletes who have arrived at this moment because of their deep commitment to honing their skills. Countless hours/years with a dedication to achieve excellence have been spent out of the limelight to obtain this moment in it. They’ve endured injuries, distractions, and trials, and yet kept their eyes on the goal.
Let’s reflect…Does my walk with Christ echo the same wholehearted commitment? Do I arise in the morning ready to love, to serve, to share Jesus? What might be holding me back from living all-in for Jesus?
Whatever our experience was when we first chose to believe and follow Christ, let’s spend some time expressing our gratitude for the incredible gift of the Holy Spirit that God has given us as His children. It was the Holy Spirit that first wooed us to Jesus, revealed Him to us, and then placed His seal upon us so that we’d spend eternity with our Lord. It’s painful to even imagine where we’d be without Him.
The gift of eternal salvation alone would have been far more than enough, and yet, the continual abiding presence of the Holy Spirit within us is a mystery that should continually inspire humility and awe in us. Take time today to reflect on your journey with the Lord. Where have you seen evidence of the Holy Spirit shaping your desires, words, or decisions?
Father, we thank You for the amazing gift of the Holy Spirit. We thank You for Your continual work in our lives, always loving and always urging us forward in our walk with You. Heighten our awareness of Your voice leading us in the path of sanctification and righteousness for Your great name. We love You, Jesus.
Apollos was brilliant and “fervent in spirit,” but he was not a follower of Jesus. He only knew the baptism of John. Rather than shaming him, Priscilla and Aquila pulled him aside to explain the way of God “more adequately.”
This illustrates the value of a teachable heart. No matter how much we know, there is always more to learn from the brothers and sisters God places in our path. Humility allows us to be refined rather than replaced. Today, remain open to the “refining fire” of community. Greatness in the Kingdom isn’t about being right; it’s about being willing to grow in the light of the truth as it is revealed to us.
One of the things I have discovered as a pastor is the continual opportunities to grow. I will never, as long as I live, become perfect in my understanding of God and His Kingdom. I learn from everyone I meet and am grateful for every new insight. I thank God continually for the tremendous things that are happening around me. The longer I walk with Christ, the more dependent I become on Him.
The proconsul Gallio didn’t care about theology, yet his indifference became Paul’s protection. Paul didn’t even have to defend himself; the “system” handled it. This is a masterclass in Divine Timing. We often exhaust ourselves trying to micromanage our reputation or safety, forgetting that God can use even the most secular forces to shield His work.
Paul was called to follow Jesus and follow His example, as are we. The difference between Paul and us is that Jesus was without sin, the only person who has ever lived who lived in perfect obedience to God, our Father. The good news is that through faith in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, we may approach God with freedom and confidence, just as Paul did.
Trust that God is working in the “background noise” of your life. You don’t have to fight every battle or win every argument. Sometimes, the most spiritual thing you can do is stand still and watch how the pieces move without your intervention.
“Do not be afraid; keep on speaking.” These words imply that Paul was, in fact, afraid and tempted to be silent. God’s remedy for Paul’s anxiety wasn’t a change in the city’s politics, but a promise of His presence: “For I am with you.”
The principle of the “Quiet Center” reminds us that courage isn’t the absence of fear; it is the presence of God. You don’t need to know how the next year in “Corinth” will play out. You only need the bread for today. When the night feels heavy, lean into the stillness and hear the Spirit whispering that you are not alone in the fray.
I can recall numerous occasions when I was anxious and fearful, and all I had to do was center my thoughts on God’s presence, and the fear went away. Jesus promised that “each day has enough trouble of its own.” In Psalm 23, David said, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil because You are with me.
No matter our circumstances, Jesus is always with us.
Paul “devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah,” yet he met nothing but abuse. His response was a physical manifestation of entrusting himself to the care of God, and then he shook out his clothes and moved next door. There is a holy grit in knowing when to stay, but there is a divine grace in knowing when to leave.
Conflict is inevitable when working with people, whether from our limited knowledge and experience or from others’. Just as a plane flying from one location to another is off course 90% of the time, adjustments and corrections have to be made to stay on course. I have learned that the same is true in working with people in church. Peter said that love covers a multitude of sins, but there are situations like Paul’s where you have to “shake the dust off of your feet” and move on.
Many of us carry the weight of “failed” projects or of people who are unreceptive as personal burdens. However, faithfulness does not require us to beat our heads against a locked door. By shaking the dust, Paul stayed present to the new opportunity at the house of Titius Justus.
Today, ask yourself: What outcome am I clutching that I need to release so I can be available for what is next? Sometimes, the most spiritual thing you can do is stop pouring energy into a closed door so you can be fully present for the open one next door.
We often expect God to speak through a big event, but in Corinth, He spoke through the shared smell of leather and the rhythm of a needle. Paul, exhausted from Athens, finds community not in a synagogue, but at a workbench with Aquila and Priscilla.
Abiding in Christ teaches us that our “tentmaking”—our jobs, errands, and hobbies—is not a distraction from our calling; it is the venue for it. When we are fully available to the person sitting across from us at lunch or the colleague in the next cubicle, we find that God has already prepared a “common ground.”
When I went to work one night at the meteorological office over sixty years ago, my personal life was falling apart. Seeking pleasure in the wrong places had turned into addictions to destructive activities. But a godly man looked beyond my faults and turned our routine workplace into an evangelistic opportunity to express his faith, love, and hope with me. He shared the Gospel and began to cultivate a relationship with me that eventually brought me into the Kingdom of God. His love for God and me changed my life and saved my marriage.
Don’t rush through the mundane tasks of today. Your next great encouragement might be hidden in the shared labor of the present moment.
