Daily Devotional for Wednesday, May 3

The Governor and the Plotters

“Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, and desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him,” Acts 25:1-3.

Knute Rockne called George Gipp the greatest football player Notre Dame ever produced. At the height of his college career, however, Gipp was struck with a serious infection that took his life. On his deathbed he told his coach, “Rock, someday when things look real tough for Notre Dame, ask the boys to go out there and win one for the Gipper.”
Eight years later, Knute recounted the deathbed story for a lackluster team about to face the powerful Army football team of 1928. The Fighting Irish played beyond themselves that day. In the second half, Notre Dame’s halfback Jack Chevigny took the ball near the goal line and, having nowhere to go, catapulted over the Army line into the end zone. Jack then leaped to his feet shouting, “That one was for the Gipper!” Notre Dame went on to beat Army 12-6. Daily Walk, July 8, 1993.
Proper motivation can move people to accomplish great things. Our key verses from Acts 25 continue the telling of Paul’s legal trials between the religious and legal courts. He was arrested in chapter 21 and his legal trial would continue to be chronicled through the end of Acts 28.
What could be Paul’s motivation to continue preaching the gospel when this very act caused his legal troubles? Could it be that Paul was motivated by the gospel itself? Paul was rescued from the grip of sin earlier in his life. Since his conversion, Paul was motivated to preach the gospel because it is the only power to save.

THOUGHT: When you get discouraged in your faith, meditate on the power of the gospel and allow God to motivate you to faithful service.

Steven Ridings