TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. Acts 19:9-10
Read: Acts 19:9-10
Listen: Acts 19
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Intense opposition to Paul’s teaching forces him to leave the synagogue and go to a nearby lecture hall. Paul leads daily discussions about Jesus there for several hours in the midday. He’s here every day, week in and week out. Paul puts down his tentmaking tools in the middle of his work and heads to the hall. If someone visits Ephesus and wants to find Paul, he is “Up the street and to the right.” Six months later, he is still “Up the street and to the right.” For two years, he is “Up the street and to the right.” Bringing himself—in the same way, to the same people over and over—results in the entire province of Asia hearing the word of the Lord.
God calls us to do the same. Every day we’re to bring our best selves to the same people in the same way. This includes moms feeding and diapering, putting the baby to sleep and waking the baby up—over and over. It’s the reports to a supervisor, week after week. Or the jump shots, hundreds of them, night after night in the gym. Like Paul, we need to persevere through the boredom of doing the same thing day after day. These are the training grounds God uses, often in ways we can’t even imagine, to make a difference.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
What are your “up the street and to the right” daily, repetitive tasks God uses to make a difference? Commit yourself again to these things as you ask God for his perseverance and strength.
NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN
Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.
Today’s reading is Hebrews 3.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
