Silver Linings
Opening Prayer
Father, thank You that You are still doing miracles. You are still ready to act on behalf of Your people.
Read Acts 20:1-12
[1] 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. [7] On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. [8] There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. [9] Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. [10] Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” [11] Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. [12] The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What sticks out to you about this story?Eutychus was a young man (9) who, try as he might, couldn’t keep his eyes open during a long sermon, even when the speaker was Paul himself! After seeing Eutychus tragically falling to his death, Paul rushes into the middle of the scrum and, perhaps in the style of Elijah (1 Kings 17:21) and Elisha (2 Kings 4:34), he brings Eutychus (whose name means good fortune!) back to life (10,12). This was a chance for Paul to do a miraculous work and turn what could have been an enormous tragedy in the community into something that was “greatly comforting” (12). It underlined his teaching of the exciting and life-giving love of Christ. So often, what feels like a stomach-turning awful situation can become a moment in our story that is not only encouraging to us, but also to our friends and family. Unfortunately, often in life, dark times don’t reveal their gold as quickly as it took Paul to run down the stairs.
Apply
Think of a recent or current “dark time” in your life. Bring it before God and ask for his perspective.
Closing prayer
Lord, thank You for Your Word and for the power of Your Spirit that backs it up. Help me rely on both.
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