Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Study of Acts 20 - Day Two "How Many People Are Traveling With You?"

Hello Everyone,

Hope each of you let your light shine today.  Let's dive into the study!

Acts 20 Study - Day two "Who Are You Traveling With?"

SCRIPTURE

Acts 20:4-6

New International Version (NIV)
He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. But we sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.



OBSERVATION
At this particular time Paul had seven companions traveling with him.  The question, how many people are traveling with you, came to my mind after counting the number of men who accompanied Paul.  In order for these men to have been selected by Paul to travel with him and help him on the mission field, they needed to have unwavering faith in Jesus Christ, be trustworthy, and fully committed to the Great Commission.

In a discussion I had with a dear sister I mentioned that you can't take a big group of people with you up the mountain.  Since Paul would travel some places by boat, let's imagine that EVERY person you know, literally, traveled with you on a cruise ship.  How chaotic would that trip be?  Not everyone would have the same goal as you do.  Some will want to go site seeing.  Some will only want to eat at the 24 hour buffets and sleep all day.  Some will want to do some of everything. The purpose for the trip, a great vacation, would be lost in the confusion and disagreements.

APPLICATION
Instead of a cruise ship, think about your life as a believer in Jesus Christ and the plan God has for your life. You cannot take everyone with you.  Yes you love them, pray for them and help them but only a select number can travel with you on your life journey.  Those special people need to be like those traveling with Paul. They need to have unwavering faith in Jesus Christ, be trustworthy, and fully committed to the Great Commission.  That group of people will make up your inner circle.

Side Note: For you single Christians, the person you decide to marry needs to be a person who could be in that inner circle.  If they want to sit on the sidelines and not go on this journey with you, you need to pray for them and move on.  You don't want that weight on your shoulders for the rest of your life.

PRAYER
Dear God our Father,  thank you for all you have done for us.  Thank you for making our travel plans, for Jesus being our travel guide and the Holy Ghost your constant companion when others come and go.  Help us to choose the right people to travel with on this Christian journey.  Help us to also do right by them.  In Jesus name I pray. Amen

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