1 00:00:10,220 --> 00:00:14,460 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture, a Calming 2 00:00:14,540 --> 00:00:18,640 Speaker 1: Scripture Center devotional podcast designed to help you end each 3 00:00:18,700 --> 00:00:22,020 Speaker 1: day with God's Word in your mind and on your heart. 4 00:00:24,930 --> 00:00:27,910 Speaker 1: Right after this short word from our sponsors, we'll reflect 5 00:00:28,050 --> 00:00:42,510 Speaker 1: on tonight's scripture and Acts chapter 20. Tonight's scripture reflection 6 00:00:42,550 --> 00:00:46,150 Speaker 1: is written by Amber Ginter and read by Carrie Eichberner. 7 00:00:47,150 --> 00:00:47,909 Speaker 1: Acts chapter 20. 8 00:00:47,909 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 2: When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples, 9 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 2: and after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia. 10 00:01:00,350 --> 00:01:03,890 Speaker 1: He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement 11 00:01:03,910 --> 00:01:07,949 Speaker 1: to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, where he 12 00:01:08,030 --> 00:01:12,330 Speaker 1: stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him 13 00:01:12,810 --> 00:01:15,589 Speaker 1: just as he was about to sail for Syria, he 14 00:01:15,610 --> 00:01:20,130 Speaker 1: decided to go back through Macedonia. He was accompanied by Sopater, 15 00:01:20,470 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 1: son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, 16 00:01:26,780 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, Antiochus and Trophimus from the 17 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:37,180 Speaker 1: province of Asia. These men went on ahead and waited 18 00:01:37,220 --> 00:01:41,580 Speaker 1: for us at Troas. But we sailed from Philippi after 19 00:01:41,620 --> 00:01:45,610 Speaker 1: the festival of unleavened bread, and five days later, the 20 00:01:45,709 --> 00:01:49,830 Speaker 1: others at Troas, where we stayed seven days. On the 21 00:01:49,890 --> 00:01:52,930 Speaker 1: first day of the week, we came together to break bread. 22 00:01:53,750 --> 00:01:56,860 Speaker 1: Paul spoke to the people, and because he intended to 23 00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There 24 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 1: were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 25 00:02:05,740 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, 26 00:02:09,620 --> 00:02:12,750 Speaker 1: who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked 27 00:02:12,940 --> 00:02:16,130 Speaker 1: on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell 28 00:02:16,210 --> 00:02:19,410 Speaker 1: to the ground from the third story and was picked 29 00:02:19,570 --> 00:02:23,950 Speaker 1: up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, 30 00:02:24,389 --> 00:02:27,820 Speaker 1: and put his arms around him. Don't be alarmed, he said. 31 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:31,820 Speaker 1: He's alive. Then he went upstairs again and broke bread 32 00:02:31,900 --> 00:02:36,310 Speaker 1: and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. The people 33 00:02:36,380 --> 00:02:39,549 Speaker 1: took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted. 34 00:02:40,350 --> 00:02:43,389 Speaker 1: We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Azos, 35 00:02:44,050 --> 00:02:47,050 Speaker 1: where we were going to take Paul aboard. He made 36 00:02:47,110 --> 00:02:50,679 Speaker 1: this arrangement because he was going there on foot. When 37 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,860 Speaker 1: he met us at Azos, we took him aboard and 38 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:58,100 Speaker 1: went on to Mytilene, The next day we set sail 39 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:02,180 Speaker 1: from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that 40 00:03:02,500 --> 00:03:05,799 Speaker 1: we crossed over to Samos and on the following day 41 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:11,580 Speaker 1: arrived at Miletus. Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus 42 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:15,300 Speaker 1: to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for 43 00:03:15,340 --> 00:03:18,030 Speaker 1: he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem if possible 44 00:03:18,380 --> 00:03:22,310 Speaker 1: by the day of Pentecost. From Miletus, Paul sent to 45 00:03:22,410 --> 00:03:25,780 Speaker 1: Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, 46 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:28,470 Speaker 1: he said to them, You know how I lived the 47 00:03:28,510 --> 00:03:31,370 Speaker 1: whole time I was with you. From the first day 48 00:03:31,750 --> 00:03:34,970 Speaker 1: I came into the province of Asia, I served the 49 00:03:35,030 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: Lord with great humility and with tears in the midst 50 00:03:38,310 --> 00:03:41,700 Speaker 1: of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 51 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything 52 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: that would be helpful to you, but have taught you 53 00:03:48,540 --> 00:03:52,270 Speaker 1: publicly and from house to house. I have declared to 54 00:03:52,330 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: both Jews and Greeks that They must turn to God 55 00:03:55,700 --> 00:04:00,060 Speaker 1: in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. And now, 56 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 1: compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not 57 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: knowing what will happen to me there. I only know 58 00:04:07,580 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: that in every city, the Holy Spirit warns me that 59 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 1: prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my 60 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,840 Speaker 1: life worth nothing to me. My only aim is to 61 00:04:18,900 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 1: finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus 62 00:04:22,110 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: has given me, the task of testifying to the good 63 00:04:25,860 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: news of God's grace. Now I know that none of 64 00:04:30,180 --> 00:04:33,140 Speaker 1: you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom 65 00:04:33,620 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you 66 00:04:37,580 --> 00:04:40,430 Speaker 1: today that I am innocent of the blood of any 67 00:04:40,490 --> 00:04:43,910 Speaker 1: of you, for I have not hesitated to proclaim to 68 00:04:43,970 --> 00:04:48,150 Speaker 1: you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves 69 00:04:48,690 --> 00:04:51,529 Speaker 1: and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has 70 00:04:51,589 --> 00:04:55,430 Speaker 1: made you overseers. be shepherds of the church of God, 71 00:04:56,029 --> 00:04:59,830 Speaker 1: which he bought with his own blood. I know that 72 00:04:59,930 --> 00:05:03,270 Speaker 1: after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you 73 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 1: and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number, 74 00:05:07,700 --> 00:05:10,580 Speaker 1: men will arise and distort the truth in order to 75 00:05:10,660 --> 00:05:14,479 Speaker 1: draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard. 76 00:05:15,060 --> 00:05:18,700 Speaker 1: Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each 77 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:22,050 Speaker 1: of you night and day with tears. Now I commit 78 00:05:22,060 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: you to God, and to the word of his grace, 79 00:05:25,060 --> 00:05:27,940 Speaker 1: which can build you up and give you an inheritance 80 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,900 Speaker 1: among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted 81 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:36,270 Speaker 1: anyone's silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that 82 00:05:36,310 --> 00:05:39,810 Speaker 1: these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and 83 00:05:39,830 --> 00:05:43,690 Speaker 1: the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I 84 00:05:43,850 --> 00:05:47,010 Speaker 1: showed you that by this kind of hard work, we 85 00:05:47,050 --> 00:05:50,300 Speaker 1: must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus 86 00:05:50,339 --> 00:05:54,580 Speaker 1: himself said. It is more blessed to give than to receive. 87 00:05:55,810 --> 00:05:59,409 Speaker 1: When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all 88 00:05:59,450 --> 00:06:02,810 Speaker 1: of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced 89 00:06:02,850 --> 00:06:06,010 Speaker 1: him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his 90 00:06:06,070 --> 00:06:09,930 Speaker 1: statement that they would never see his face again. Then 91 00:06:09,970 --> 00:06:17,590 Speaker 1: they accompanied him to the ship. I was 14 when 92 00:06:17,630 --> 00:06:20,820 Speaker 1: the Lord called me away from being a veterinarian and 93 00:06:20,980 --> 00:06:24,600 Speaker 1: into the unknown of being an author. To those of 94 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:28,060 Speaker 1: you who know me now, this isn't a surprise. I've 95 00:06:28,190 --> 00:06:32,890 Speaker 1: always loved to write, but little Amber also loved animals. 96 00:06:33,970 --> 00:06:36,229 Speaker 1: It was hard to let go of the calling I 97 00:06:36,290 --> 00:06:39,010 Speaker 1: thought I wanted for my life and pick up the 98 00:06:39,190 --> 00:06:43,420 Speaker 1: one God created for me instead. And yet, a small 99 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:47,300 Speaker 1: whisper in my ear always reminds me that not only 100 00:06:47,420 --> 00:06:52,270 Speaker 1: are His plans good, but they are best. Now at 30, 101 00:06:52,270 --> 00:06:55,130 Speaker 1: I wish I could tell you that following God's calling 102 00:06:55,190 --> 00:06:59,850 Speaker 1: is easy. The reality is, it's far from it. I've 103 00:06:59,930 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 1: questioned my desires, explored other paths, and gotten lost more 104 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 1: times than I can count. Especially when every person's path 105 00:07:09,020 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 1: is unique to them, it can be hard to stay 106 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: the course. All of us will face seasons when we 107 00:07:15,620 --> 00:07:21,370 Speaker 1: feel discouraged, distracted, uncertain, or tempted to give up. But 108 00:07:21,500 --> 00:07:25,270 Speaker 1: Acts 20 reminds us that staying faithful to the calling 109 00:07:25,310 --> 00:07:28,330 Speaker 1: God has given you, not your best friend or neighbor, 110 00:07:28,850 --> 00:07:33,390 Speaker 1: will always produce fruitful results. I don't know what season 111 00:07:33,410 --> 00:07:36,690 Speaker 1: you're living in right now, but I know that God 112 00:07:36,730 --> 00:07:39,650 Speaker 1: has called us to be faithful and obedient in it. 113 00:07:40,530 --> 00:07:43,410 Speaker 1: My question isn't what have you been called to do, 114 00:07:43,890 --> 00:07:47,770 Speaker 1: but where. Where do you find yourself? And where have 115 00:07:47,810 --> 00:07:51,540 Speaker 1: you felt challenged to remain faithful? even when the path 116 00:07:51,580 --> 00:07:55,740 Speaker 1: is difficult? It might be challenging to answer, but when 117 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:59,790 Speaker 1: you think about your life, what distractions and fears are 118 00:07:59,850 --> 00:08:02,570 Speaker 1: pulling your attention away from His calling on your life? 119 00:08:03,610 --> 00:08:07,270 Speaker 1: Is it others' opinions or your own doubts and insecurities? 120 00:08:07,970 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: Is it discouragement or weariness from trying over and over again? 121 00:08:12,130 --> 00:08:16,860 Speaker 1: In times like these, take time to reflect on how 122 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:20,750 Speaker 1: you've seen God's faithfulness in your journey so far. What 123 00:08:20,770 --> 00:08:23,860 Speaker 1: would it look like to take the next faithful step, 124 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:28,060 Speaker 1: even if you don't know the full path ahead? This 125 00:08:28,140 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 1: passage reminds us that just as Paul remained committed to 126 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 1: God's calling despite uncertainty, hardship, and opposition, so can we. 127 00:08:39,140 --> 00:08:43,540 Speaker 1: Faithfulness isn't about having all the answers, but continuing to 128 00:08:43,620 --> 00:08:48,180 Speaker 1: trust God one step at a time. God equips us 129 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:51,030 Speaker 1: for the work He calls us to do, So even 130 00:08:51,070 --> 00:08:54,050 Speaker 1: when it's hard, we are called to stay the course. 131 00:08:55,090 --> 00:08:59,730 Speaker 1: Our responsibility is obedience, but the results belong to Him. 132 00:09:01,010 --> 00:09:05,170 Speaker 1: As you prepare for rest, ask yourself, how has God 133 00:09:05,210 --> 00:09:08,610 Speaker 1: been inviting me to trust Him more deeply in my calling? 134 00:09:09,730 --> 00:09:13,890 Speaker 1: Where do I need courage to remain faithful? And what 135 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: is the next step of obedience I can take tomorrow? 136 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:26,140 Speaker 1: Dear Jesus, tonight I want to thank you for the 137 00:09:26,220 --> 00:09:29,870 Speaker 1: unique calling you've placed on my life. I lift up 138 00:09:29,900 --> 00:09:34,990 Speaker 1: my hands and surrender my fears, doubts, and uncertainties to you. 139 00:09:36,090 --> 00:09:39,050 Speaker 1: Even when things are hard, I trust that you will 140 00:09:39,090 --> 00:09:42,530 Speaker 1: guide and equip me for whatever comes next. And in 141 00:09:42,570 --> 00:09:46,270 Speaker 1: the meantime, I will remain faithful to the work you've 142 00:09:46,330 --> 00:09:51,010 Speaker 1: entrusted to me one day at a time. I love 143 00:09:51,650 --> 00:09:57,910 Speaker 1: Praise and thank you, Lord. Amen. How did tonight's scripture 144 00:09:57,950 --> 00:10:00,860 Speaker 1: speak to you? Share your thoughts. in the Your Nightly 145 00:10:00,900 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 1: Scripture Forum discussion. 146 00:10:10,910 --> 00:10:15,490 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture. Tonight's scripture 147 00:10:15,929 --> 00:10:20,719 Speaker 3: was read from the New International Version by Biblica. 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