Footsteps of Paul
Yesterday morning, as I was sitting on my riding lawnmower and cutting the grass, I was marveling at the fact that I woke up the morning before that in Athens, Greece. It was almost thirty hours crossing seven times zones from the time of my wakeup call until my head hit the pillow at home, but our travels were all technically on the same day.
Cheryl and I just returned from a “Footsteps of Paul” tour led by Donna Snow where we visited many of the sites of Paul’s Second Missionary Journey. It included three couples we already knew from college and LWML and the congregation I served, but we also made fifteen new friends. It was a wonderful journey on which I was humbled and privileged to lead several devotions and Bible Studies at different sites along the way.
I was even more humbled as I stood in Neapolis, Philippi, Thessalonica, Athens, Corinth and Ephesus and considered what the Apostle Paul had done there. While we had our share of “adventures” on our journey with weather delays and missed connections, we had it easy compared to Paul travelling to those places in the first century. He most likely walked most of the time, was ridiculed, imprisoned and beaten along the way, but he kept going.
Paul had a passion for sharing the Good News of Jesus with everyone he encountered. He did not let the hardships he encountered deter him from his calling. That became even more meaningful as I read the words of Scripture in the places where those things took place. I envisioned Paul standing there, firm in his convictions and daring to speak his faith.
I know that I will be sharing more about this trip with you in the days ahead, but for now I want to pray that I and all of you would have the same kind of zeal and passion Paul did to tell others about Jesus. As I was thinking about all of this I remembered the words Jesus spoke.
John 10:16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
Paul was trying to bring the other sheep into the fold of the Good Shepherd. We need to do the same in our lives.
Lord, thank you for being the Savior of all people and my Savior. Thank you for paying for the sins of the world and my sin. Thank you for rising on the third day to defeat death and the grave for me and everyone else in the world. Instill in my heart a fervent desire to share your Good News with those who are not yet in a faith relationship with you. May your Spirit use me and my witness to draw more people to faith and forgiveness. I pray this in your holy name. Amen.
