Daily Devotional for Monday, April 24

Paul’s Experience with the High Priest

“And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth,” Acts 23:1, 2.

The first two Scottish missionaries sent to the New Hebrides Islands were killed and eaten by cannibals on the day they arrived. After that, it proved difficult to find missionary volunteers. But even when John G. Paton agreed to go, well-meaning people in the church tried to dissuade him. One elderly man warned that he would be eaten by cannibals. Paton replied, “I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honouring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my resurrection body will arise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer.” After fifteen years of fruitful ministry, almost everyone on the island of Aniwa where Paton ministered was converted.
Following the example of apostle Paul, many Christians have placed their lives to be used in God’s hand no matter the outcome. In the Scripture text, the apostle Paul was testifying for his life before the Sanhedrin after being arrested for faithfully preaching the gospel. Paul could have avoided arrest if he simply would have ceased to preach. Yet, he did not value his life above obedience to God. In every imprisonment, persecution and shipwreck, Paul faithfully proclaimed the gospel and entrusted his well-being to God.
Paul never allowed the possibility of pain or persecution to hinder him. He faithfully served God in every circumstance.

THOUGHT: “Serving God is not a guarantee of an easy life. But we are called to a life of service, even if it means giving up everything. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

Steven Ridings