June 13, 2019
What does it say?
The shipwrecked men spent three months on the island of Malta then sailed for Rome. Paul spent two years under house arrest there, boldly teaching about the Lord Jesus.
What does it mean?
Paul wasn’t in control of his circumstances, but God was. The gospel traveled from Jerusalem to Rome along with Paul. His traumatic experiences along the way drove him to rely on the Holy Spirit and gave him deep understanding of scriptural principles, many of which he recorded for posterity while under house arrest. Had Paul arrived in Rome and said, “I’ve done my part” or “I’m hindered by chains,” then we wouldn’t have the books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. He made no excuses to the Lord. When he could no longer go, God sent people to him. As Acts ends, Paul was still faithfully fulfilling his purpose of teaching and preaching in the name of Jesus Christ.
How should I respond?
Ancient Rome was steeped in the worship of mythological gods; yet the world today accepts this city as the central hub of Christianity, largely due to the influence of one homebound prisoner over two thousand years ago. From this observation we can glean an important principle: our inability to control life’s circumstances doesn’t hinder God. Is something keeping you from actively getting involved in serving Him – a new location or a health issue perhaps? Ask God to show you how to best serve Him, no matter how restrictive your situation appears to be.