Spend time in prayer and silence with God, asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
Paul went into the synagogue and spoke out boldly for three months. He talked with the Jews and persuaded them to accept the things he said about the kingdom of God. But some of the Jews became stubborn. They refused to believe and said evil things about the Way of Jesus before all the people. So Paul left them, and taking the followers with him, he went to the school of a man named Tyrannus. There Paul talked with people every day for two years. Because of his work, every Jew and Greek in the province of Asia heard the Word of the Lord.
– Acts 19:8-10
Devotion
The third mission trip focused on Paul’s return to Ephesus, where he spent three years preaching the Gospel in the region. The seven churches of Asia Minor mentioned in Revelation were all birthed because of Paul’s ministry here. Paul used Ephesus as his home base during this three-year ministry period. Ephesus was renowned as the center for pagan magic in the ancient world. Like in other cities where Paul preached, some accepted his message and others didn’t. Ephesus was no exception. Despite fierce opposition, Paul continued to declare the “Good News” of Jesus to anybody that would listen. Because of his faithfulness, “every Jew and Greek in the province of Asia heard the Word of the Lord.”
The Big Question
How do you handle opposition? Do you shrink back and fold because of it? Do you press forward and grow from it? What do you do when people say hurtful things about you that are not true? Is there something from your past that is impacting how you handle conflict and opposition? Restore: How are you facing the things that hold you down? Go: Who is in your top 3?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence, reflecting on what God revealed to you today.