Acts 18:20
When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined.
Shalom sdr, my devotion today, Thu, Sept. 10, DECLINE (Acts 18:20). Paul was at Ephesus at this time. He preached and told them the word of God. The people were so very blessed. Naturally, they asked Paul to stay longer in Ephesus. But strangely, Paul refused. He declined the people’s plea. Position was ready, as a teacher. The follower was ready, as the member. Opportunity was ready. Place was ready, at the synagogue. But why Paul refused? Not because of the people, the number, the place, so forth. The only reason was because the will of God. For Paul, God wanted him to go to many places. For the church, God wanted it to depend on God, not on man. We think, if Paul stayed there, perhaps, today, we can see a mega church from Ephesus. Tragically, the church of Ephesus is not exist anymore today. Is it Paul’s mistake? Is it God’s mistake? Is it situation mistake? It’s their own mistake. They didn’t believe God seriously. The book of Revelation reveals that they have left the first love. The same thing may happen on Paul, if Paul stayed there, he would depend on the people, not on God. So, the lesson today is always depend on God alone, not on anything else. (ash)
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