Reading Plan:
Acts 28



Our Thoughts:
Today we’re picking up in Acts 28, the final chapter of this incredible book. At this point in the journey, Paul and the others have arrived in Rome. His circumstances allowed him to be put on house arrest and chained to a Roman soldier as he waited for his trial. Although this situation may not have been ideal for his wandering spirit, it could have been much worse—like a prison cell. In many ways, Paul was confined in his physical scope of reach, but he didn’t let that stop him from having an impact. People just showed up at Paul’s house both individually and in groups, and he used those opportunities to share the Gospel.

Do you ever think that your circumstances aren’t ideal for sharing your faith? Maybe you have another scenario in mind when you think about sharing Jesus with people. Sometimes we think that we have to be in a certain role or do a certain thing at a certain time in a certain place to share the Gospel. We have the ideal situation planned out in our minds, and it can be easy to think that we aren’t in the right place to share the Gospel otherwise. In our attempts to wait on the perfect situation, we end up doing nothing.
I’m certain that Paul didn’t imagine house arrest as the ideal situation for witnessing, but he didn’t let it stop him. He wanted to preach the Gospel in Rome, and he was finally there—even if it was a more difficult journey there than he anticipated. Paul didn’t let his difficult circumstances stop him from doing what he was called to do. He didn’t waste any time sitting around sulking. Paul made the most of the moment. He preached and shared Jesus from the very chains of his imprisonment.

Paul’s ability to remain steadfast from the confines of his house arrest undoubtedly impacted lives in that time and continues to impact lives even now. Long after Paul’s death, the Gospel continues to spread through the believers who heard him preach, as well as through His letters—many of which are now a part of the New Testament. Just as we talked about yesterday, his boldness even in the face of a bad situation resulted in a great Kingdom impact.

No matter what you are facing, good can still come and God can still be honored in it. God has a purpose and a plan even in our difficult seasons. Instead of looking for ways to change your difficult circumstances, look for ways to use them for God’s glory. Difficult situations aren’t permission for us to sit back and keep quiet about our faith. Sometimes our response in the midst of hardship speaks the loudest about our hope in Jesus.

We see from Paul’s example here that we can witness wherever we are. We don’t have to have a stage and a microphone to share the Gospel. We don’t have to go on mission trips to other places to share the hope of Jesus. We can share it right where we are. Paul didn’t wait until he was released from house arrest and was able to travel again to share his faith. He reached the people around him—right where he was. We can do the same.

Maybe for us, that’s at work or in our neighborhood. Maybe it’s a full-scale witnessing opportunity in that ideal situation we have in mind, or maybe it’s something small like helping someone in need and letting them see Jesus in our life. We can be bearers of the Good News anywhere when we slow down to see the people God has placed around us and we are willing to share. When we are available for God to use us, He will give us opportunities to tell others about him- regardless of the situation or place we find ourselves.


More Questions:
• Who has God placed around you who might need to hear the hope of the Gospel?
• What does it look like for you to be open and available to God leading in your life?
• When is a time that you have been in a difficult season or situation? What was your response?


Prayer:
God, help me not to hold back from sharing the Gospel when I’m in a difficult season or situation. Help me to be open and available to opportunities to share you with others. Help me to make the most of every moment you give me, using it for your glory and honor. When hard times come, let my response honor you.


Author: Brooke Warren