TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. Acts 20:34
Read: Acts 20:34
Listen: Acts 20
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Paul calls for the church leaders in Ephesus to join him in Miletus as he hopes to arrive in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost. He delivers his farewell address to them, holds up his hands and reminds them he supplied his own needs. He works in Ephesus and Corinth (2 Corinthians 12:13) and Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 2:9). Paul supports himself through the trade of tentmaking, living out what he writes in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…” Paul does the Lord’s work in both the lecture hall and the tentmaker’s shop.
We may divide our work in ways Paul didn’t. We work for a living, and then we do ministry. We run a company for our job, but our ministry is leading a small group. We make money by serving coffee at Starbucks, but we serve Jesus in our student ministry, Lifeline. Engineering pays the bills, but volunteering for a nonprofit is what really makes a difference. Scripture is clear that everything we do—secular/sacred, paid/unpaid, job/volunteer—is all ministry and is all to be done for the Lord. Nothing is too common for the faithful follower of Jesus.
Watch this video as Pastor Jeff Manion shares how our work makes a difference. Every order we fill with accuracy and enthusiasm, every customer who gets our undivided attention and appreciation and every child we joyfully explain the math problem to again. Our attitude and craft matter because they reflect God’s goodness in the world.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Begin memorizing Colossians 3:23 by writing it three times on page 43 in your Jesus & the City journal. Use this verse to remind yourself the importance of all you do in the middle of the daily grind.
NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN
Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.
Today’s reading is Hebrews 4.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
