Welcome to Day 26. for one of our short powerful devotions from the 30 Bible Verses About God's Amazing Grace, bible reading plan. This short devotional is based on Acts 20:24.
Read Acts 20:24.
The book of Acts was written by Luke around AD 62. As I was researching the biblical background to our study on Acts 20:24, I found myself asking the question - "What is the book of Acts about?"
The book of Acts chronicles the lives of key apostles (especially Peter and Paul) in the decades immediately following Christ’s ascension into heaven. Luke was first a follower of the apostles and then became close with Paul. This is exactly how the book of Acts unfolds, beginning with Peter and ending with Paul. Luke even began to speak in the first person plural in the latter portion of Acts, as he traveled the Roman Empire alongside Paul (Acts 16:10). You can read more about this history Here.
The book of Acts provides us with a valuable account of how the church was able to grow and spread out from Jerusalem into the rest of the Roman Empire. In only three decades, a small group of frightened believers in Jerusalem transformed into an empire-wide movement of people who had committed their lives to Jesus Christ, ending on a high note with Paul on the verge of taking the gospel to the highest government official in the land—the Emperor of Rome. This is amazing!
Join me below as we discuss what Paul meant when he said that he wants to finish his course with joy and make sure to pray alongside me in the prayer at the bottom of the post.
Devotional: Finishing The Race With Joy - Acts 20:24
We have discussed before on Day 13 of our 30 Bible Verses About God's Amazing Grace, bible reading plan that Paul had a total transformation of heart toward Jesus and His disciples. He had relentlessly persecuted the Christians because of his religious beliefs but then God spoke to him on the Damascus road and through God's amazing grace, Paul transformed from being a hate-filled villain to a passionate hero for Jesus!
Acts 20:24 meaning
Paul is about to head to Jerusalem and he knows that it is a dangerous place for him to go. He said in Acts 20:22, "And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there" Yet he still went. Not only did he go on a dangerous mission but he went with a heart full of joy.
Paul's passion was to run his race well for Christ. He knew that it was more of a marathon than a short race and that it would entail hardships. He understood that to run his race well, he needed God's amazing grace.
Are you like Paul? Do you have a similar passion as he did to:
Run your race well with joy.
Carry out the ministry that Jesus has given you to do, both at home and in the world.
Testify the gospel of the grace of God.
I will be completely transparent and tell you that I sometimes want to quit the ministry that God has given me to do. It is hard running this Christian race or marathon!
I am sure that you can agree with me that none of us want to quit, no matter the hardships that come along in our race. None of us want to fail to testify of the gospel of God's grace.
But that is the secret!
God's grace is the secret to completing the ministry that He has given each of us.
When you seek God's presence, you will be filled with His grace, strength, and joy to do the work that is laid before you.
No matter where you are in your journey of life, be like Paul. He was able to face what lay ahead of him because he trusted God with his life and he knew how to walk in God's grace and to do it with joy.
As a believer in Christ, you and I were bought at a price and we belong to God. When you live passionately for God, your whole perspective on life changes. You will find that your joy in the Lord will give you the strength to conquer the challenges that you encounter in your life and in the ministry that God has given you to do.
Are you running your race with joy?
Use the free guided prayer journal that you will find in the Resource Library or grab a notebook and use the following questions to enable you to unpack what God is saying to you through Acts 20:24 today.
Today's devotional is based on Acts 20:24 which is from our 30 Bible Verses About God's Amazing Grace, bible reading plan. You will find a free printable PDF of 30 scriptures about God's grace in the Resource Library. It has a bible reading plan, guided prayer, and gratitude journal. Download this free printable or grab a notebook.
What is God saying to you through this verse?
What burdens do you need to surrender to God and trust Him with?
Write out your prayer request.
What are you grateful for today? Count your blessings!
Write out the scripture verse, it helps you to memorize the scripture and store up God's truth in your heart. Then in the last section of the prayer journal, there is space to record what God is speaking to you through our grace bible verse for today, Acts 20:24.
Scripture Prayer - Acts 20:24
We are called to pray without ceasing. That means we can talk with God at any time and in any place. You can chat with God throughout the day! Praying scripture is a powerful way to pray so join me in praying Acts 20:24.
Thank you Father for Your unending grace. Help me to accept Your grace and to do the ministry that You have prepared for me, with joy. Give me Your strength and wisdom to testify Your gospel. Amen.
Related Resources:
1. You will find 30 Bible Verses About God's Amazing Grace (Free Bible Plan And Prayer Journal)HERE It will have the list of 30 Bible verses that we are using for 30 days that our short powerful daily devotionals are based on.
2. We have many resources for women's Bible study and prayer. You may be interested in our super-saver printable Devotional Bible study and Prayer bundle. It also contains the licenses you need to use our studies in group settings.
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xx Karen.