Finally
Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him. Acts 28:16
Have you ever been on a long trip with young passengers that inevitably ask that dreaded question, “Are we there, yet?” Sometimes it comes very early on in your travels. Children just don’t seem to understand time and distance and get impatient when they have to sit still for a very long time.
I wonder if the apostle Paul ever felt this way as he traveled to Rome. It was not just a few short hours or days. His journey took months to reach his destination. When he left Caesarea, it was probably a few weeks before they landed at Fair Haven, which was before they ran into the 14-day storm. Then after swimming ashore at Malta, they spent another three months there for the winter. Finally, they boarded a ship and headed for Rome with another series of stops that added over another week to the journey. Through it all, I didn’t once hear Paul say, “Are we there yet?” If fact, I don’t even know if her was really ready to reach Rome. It was an uncertainty for sure. Except, he knew that God was taking him there for a reason and he was ready to tell others about the way of salvation when he got there.
Notice, all along the way as he traveled, he did the same thing that he was called to do at Rome. Preached the love of God in the gospel message. He didn’t wait until he got to Rome to start up his ministry again, he just continued to do it wherever he was forced to be at the time. Through many test, trials, setbacks and even shipwreck, he used each opportunity to lead others to Jesus. There was no, “Are we there, yet?” questions because to Paul, he was always there. Wherever he was, he was there to do ministry and fulfil his mission.
Finally, he made it to Rome, and once again, time to get to work. Not time to wait until he went before Caesar, but time to lead others to the Lord Jesus. Paul really didn’t know that when he arrived at Rome, he would be separated from the rest of the prisoners and be permitted to live by himself with his own private bodyguard. Of course, his friends, Luke and Aristarchus were with him also. It really looked like God had thought of every detail because He did.
This leads me to ask the question to myself. Do I get impatient on the journey of my life, or do I just do what I am called to do each day no matter where I am on the journey? Ideally, I recognize the hand of God on each step I take and proclaim His goodness and empowering grace wherever I go. I don’t want to get impatient and ask, “When are we going to get to the good part?” or “When will things start to be easier?” I want to enjoy where I am each leg of the journey knowing that my God is with me and taking me through every storm and shipwreck that may happen along the way.
Today I want to encourage you to love and enjoy the life you have been given. Live each day on your mission and purpose. Don’t let stress of the unknown weigh you down, instead, trust that the Holy Spirit is leading you and making each step to take plain and clear. When it feel like it is taking a long time to get to where you want to be, don’t complain about having to sit and wait. Praise God right where you are and make ways to do your ministry no matter what is going on around you. I want to leave you with this final encouraging scripture in 1 Peter 3:10-12 that says: “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do and speak evil.”
The actual formula for loving life and seeing good days:
- Refrain your tongue from evil speaking, complaining and speaking lies and deceitful words.
- Turn aways from evil ways and do good acts of kindness and love.
- Seek peace in every situation and chase/pursue after it.
The rewards of loving life and seeing good days:
- God’s eye of protection and grace will be on you.
- His ears will be open to your prayers and requests.
- His face will not be against you but for you.
Today’s scripture reading: Acts 28:11-16
11 After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island.
12 And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days.
13 From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli,
14 where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome.
15 And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
16 Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
The Daily Dose 