Good morning! We are halfway through the workweek. Have you ever been on a trip and you were able to accomplish more than you expected to? Myself, I like agendas so that I can do everything on the list, whereas other times I travel with people who just go with – what’s next. Both options are good and it certainly leads to great stories upon my return home. Today we will continue our reading in Acts chapter 21, with Paul arriving to Jerusalem. Paul was prepared to share with apostles everything from his missions.

Bible Verse

“¹⁵ After this we packed our things and left for Jerusalem. ¹⁶ Some believers from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to the home of Mnason, a man originally from Cyprus and one of the early believers. ¹⁷ When we arrived, the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem welcomed us warmly.

¹⁸ The next day Paul went with us to meet with James, and all the elders of the Jerusalem church were present. ¹⁹ After greeting them, Paul gave a detailed account of the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry.” – Acts 21:15-19 NLT

Reflection

Paul finally made it to Jerusalem. Other believers had went with him and they were warmly greeted by the church elders. I wonder what stories or accounts of his travels did he share? Did he tell them about:

• Jewish leaders becoming believers?
• total households and communities believing?
• Gentiles becoming believers?
• the financial offerings given by faithful believers?
• him being placed in prison? Or
• the time he was preaching and the man fell out of the window?

There was so much to tell. However, what is highlighted in these verses is “the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry.” This is important because it proves again that the Good News is for everyone – not just certain groups. The unity of the church begins with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone. He made a way for all of us to be reconciled back to God. Paul was faithful to the mission and as a result, many believed and received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Sisters and brothers, the Lord is doing a mighty work in the world today. People are still learning and hearing about Jesus for the first time. There are others who have heard about Jesus and now they are ready to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Don’t give up on sharing the Good News with others, people need to know the saving grace, forgiveness, redemption, acceptance and love found in Jesus Christ that reconciles us back to God. Keep praying for your household. Keep praying for that spouse and/or child. Keep praying for that sibling or family member. Keep praying for that boss or co-worker. Remember there is work to do…follow the Holy Spirit’s lead.

Prayer

Father God we thank you for your continued goodness and mercy in our lives. We thank you for your grace and peace. Lord, you have been faithful in every area of our lives. Lord, continue to nurture us and strengthen our resolve as Christians and followers of your word. Lord, help us to stand for the things that matter to you. Help us to do the things that please you and point others to you. Lord, we pray for our family members and friends who do not know you. We pray for them to open their hearts and minds toward you. Lord, whatever is causing them not to believe, remove those barriers so that they will see you and accept you as their Lord. Father, lead us in all our ways. We pray for our nation and for healing across the land. We pray for our sisters and brothers who are undergoing radiation and chemo therapy, and ask that you give them strength. Lord, help them to endure the treatments and preserve their lives. Lord, increase their time with their loved ones, but most of all to be able to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who don’t know You. Lord, be our anchor and shield, our refuge and hope. Continue to be with us and transform us to be more like you each day. In Jesus name, amen.

VIRTUAL BIBLE STUDY 

Join us as we study lessons from the Bible through a video series authored by Priscilla Shirer. RSVP to: contactus@maryewhiteministries.com and a member of our team will email you the Zoom link to join the study.

“Interruptions. They’re aggravating. Sometimes infuriating. But how we handle interruptions actually tell us more about ourselves. What do we do when God interrupts our lives? Many times, like Jonah, we run! Priscilla redefines interruption and shows that interruption is actually God’s invitation to do something beyond our wildest dreams. When Jonah was willing to allow God to interrupt his life, the result was revival in an entire city.” – Priscilla Shirer

• Location: Via Zoom (RSVP: contactus@maryewhiteministries.com for the Zoom link)
• Begins: Wednesday, November 18, 2020
• Time: 6:00 P.M. – 7:30 P.M.
• We purchased the Jonah Video Bundle for Group Use. You will need to purchase your personal Bible study book.
• Bible Study Book:  Jonah Navigating Life Interrupted. The author of the book is Priscilla Shirer.

Note: If you purchase your book online through LifeWay, you can subscribe to their website and get a 20% discount on your purchase. Here’s the link to the Bible study book via LifeWay:  https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/jonah-bible-study-book-P005264295

Do you have a prayer request? We would love to pray for you. Send your prayer request to: prayerrequest@maryewhiteministries.com

Bible Reference: http://biblegateway.com

Copyright 2020 Mary E. White Ministries, all rights reserved.