[Paul was] saying, “I will return to you again if God wills.” (Acts 18:21)
Today’s lesson from the apostle Paul – make your plans, but accept the unknown, too. Paul planned to return to Ephesus, but he recognized that might not be God’s will.
Hold your plans loosely in your hands. When we become too attached to our expectations of how the future will unfold, our focus becomes on our will, not God’s. Dream and plan and hope and envision… but leave room for the imagination of your Maker. He is weaving your life into a much larger tapestry of the kingdom, and accepting His will allows us to be intertwined smoothly into His grander vision.
Don’t miss out on His plans because you were so beholden to your own.
Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites
Today’s Reading: Acts 18:12-28
Questions to ask:
- How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
- How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
- What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
- What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?
This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul. If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision