Living Consistently

October 14

(Acts 20:13-18 NIV) "We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. {14} When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. {15} The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Kios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. {16} Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost. {17} From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. {18} When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia."

(1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV) "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

(Galatians 6:9 NIV) "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

In good times and bad, Paul stayed the course, and modeled for us what it means to be a faithful servant of the Lord. One of the marks of a faithful disciple is consistency. When the elders of Ephesus came to see Paul, he boldly told them to consider his life as evidence for the grace and power of God. He basically said, “Look at how I have lived among you. My life is an open book. I have lived consistently. I am proof that Jesus lives, because you can see how He lives in me.” Could you say that? Are you confident that if someone watched how you live on a daily basis, they would see what it means to live like Jesus? Could anyone see Jesus through the consistency of your life witness? If not, what is it that blurs the image of Christ in your life? What is causing your witness to be sporadic rather than consistent? There is where change must begin. Ask God to start there. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Sleeping With Eyes Open

October 13

(Acts 20:9 NIV) “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.”

(Romans 13:11-14 NIV) “And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. {12} The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. {13} Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. {14} Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

(Revelation 3:1-3 NIV) “To the… church in Sardis… I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. {2} Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. {3} Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.”

There are some today like this young man who fell asleep, tumbled from a third-story window, hit the ground, and died. They have been asleep and have fallen hard. They are part of the living dead and need a resurrection. They need Jesus to breathe life into them, or they will be lost forever. But there are also many in the church today who are sleeping with their eyes open. They have received that touch from Jesus, and they have the appearance of being awake, but they are asleep in the light. Jesus may have opened their eyes once, but their ears and their hearts have been disengaged for years. They no longer hear the word of the Lord. They no longer see His glory. They no longer feel the Spirit moving. If this describes you -- if you were alive to Christ once, but have been sleeping in church with your eyes open, God says, “Wake up!” Spiritual sleep walking is dangerous. Wake up! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Dangerous Dozing in Church

October 12

(Acts 20:6-12 NIV) ““But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast 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.””

(Luke 8:49-55 NIV) ““While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the teacher anymore." {50} Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed." {51} When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother. {52} Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep." {53} They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. {54} But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" {55} Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.””

(1 Thessalonians 5:3-9 NIV) ““While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. {4} But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. {5} You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. {6} So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. {7} For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. {8} But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. {9} For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.””

When Paul preached at a Sunday night service in Troas, they didn’t get the “Reader’s Digest” version -- they got the full unabridged novel. Paul preached “on and on”. He was leaving the next day and wanted to share everything he could about Jesus. Around midnight, a young man who was sitting in the third-story window, fell asleep and was killed when he fell to the ground. Paul went down, prayed life back into him, then went back upstairs and preached until daybreak. It’s amazing what someone rising from the dead can do. That’s still true today. Dozing off in church can be dangerous. It can even cause death. Here, the death of Eutychus -- today, the death of one’s faith. When we sleep in the presence of God’s word long enough, we can eventually stop hearing, lose spiritual consciousness, and suffer a serious fall. Keep your eyes open, and remain alert. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Second Generation Honor Roll

October 11

(Acts 20:4-6 NIV) "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 Feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days."

(Acts 6:7 NIV) "So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith."

(Luke 10:1-3 NIV) "After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. {2} He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. {3} Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves."

A few chapters ago in Acts, it was just Silas walking with Paul. Now the one has become seven. Not only are more and more people being saved, more are serving as ministers with Paul. This list of names is like an “honor roll” of second generation apostles -- men who had never personally seen Jesus, but who laid their lives on the line and who had the faith to preach the gospel. Some of these names are never mentioned again in Scripture, but are immortalized here. We don’t know their fate, but it’s likely that some gave their very lives as heroes for Christ. That raises a question. If you had lived during this time would your name have made it into the Book? When you are gone, will your name be remembered for your exceptional service to the church? Serve in such a way as to earn a place with those at the honors banquet on the other side. You won’t be sorry you did. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day