Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 3, 2011

Grace preserves us through tears, trials, and troubles.

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 20:13-24.  Here is a link to the full text. 

                                         

We will focus on the following verses 17 through 24.

 
“17  From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.
 
18  And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time,
 
19  serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews;
 
20  how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house,
 
21  solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
22  And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,
 
23  except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.
 
24  But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.”  Acts 20:17-24.

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It is difficult to read about Paul’s past and future tears, trials, and troubles.  We think about our own past and future tears, trials, and troubles. 

It is difficult to read about Paul wanting to finish his course and his ministry.  We think about our own course and ministry. 

We get anxious and fear. 

But, there is hope!  

There is that “gospel of the grace of God”!  That grace is sufficient to preserve you through those past and future tears, trials and troubles.  That grace is sufficient to cause you to finish your course and ministry.

That is the “P” of “TULIP”, the gospel of the grace of God.  “P” represents “Perseverance of the Saints” better known as “Preservation of the Saints”.  That is our hope!

2 Corinthians 12:9
“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

1 Peter 5:10
“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”

Philippians 1:6
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish;  and no one will snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.”  John 10:27-30.

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