Saturday 23 May, 2020

20 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia. 2 He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3 where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 But we sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

Have you ever been tasked with a quest to complete? Maybe you were tasked with fulfilling a shopping list for the weekly family groceries? Or you were tasked with a university group assignment? or perhaps you had to climb up a tree to retrieve a cat that was stuck in the neighbour’s tree? These don’t really seem like quests do they, they are more like tasks that seem pretty menial and that could be completed by someone else. Someone else could buy the groceries, someone else to fill your spot on the uni group assignment and yes you could call the fire brigade to get that cat down!

A real quest seems like what Paul was doing when he travelled all around; here in this verse it mentions Macedonia and Greece. Paul had an ordained quest from God. He knew what he had to do. He had to visit certain places, speak to certain people and give them specific words of encouragement. He knew ahead of time what his end would be, it had been prophesied many times and he was aware of how important his quest was: He knew it would be his last time meeting these people before his capture and arrest.

We may think that our days tasks or work fail insignificance compared to the work of Paul. But perhaps others around you don’t think so. Maybe that word of encouragement you gave or that message or that gift or that important work document was particularly significant to them. Perhaps we need to be reminded that we are all significant in God’s eyes and we have been put here with a purpose to fulfil just as Paul was given. Paul was given God’s quest to complete for his life and he completed it. If you are doing work or tasks in the name of Jesus, with love, compassion, truth, humility and honesty then you are doing God’s quest for your life. 

Dear heavenly Father remind us of our significance in your eyes. All our works are seen by you and are not invaluable. Thank you for giving us Paul as an example of a man who earnestly followed your will. Amen.

Written by Susannah Ware