22.288 | Missionary Travels | Acts 20:13-17 | God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

God’s Word For Today

Acts 20:13-17 ESV

13 But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. 15 And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and[b] the day after that we went to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.

MISSIONARY TRAVELS

After Troas, Luke and a few others sailed from Philippi and meet Paul in Troas. Although Luke and several others decided to sail from Troas to Assos, Paul chose to walk to the city (v.13,14). Why? Did many from Troas come along to listen more from him? We don’t have an idea.

In Assos the entire group took a ship to Mitylene (v. 14). From Mitylene they sailed past the islands of Chios and Samos, docked for a night at Trogyllium, then eventually arrived at Miletus (v.15). It was from Miletus that the apostle requested that the elders in the Ephesian church should visit him. When they arrived he warned them about the coming ‘apostasy’ in the church (v.26-31).

Should he successfully left at Corinth, this important meeting with the elders of Ephesus should had not happened. There are no interruptions in the Lord. When God closes one road, He opens another one. Indeed, God is arranging everything in our lives for good [Rom 8:28]. That is, everything does happen in conjunction to His plan and purposes, doesn’t it?

This ardous and long travel had accentuated the third missionary journey of Paul to Asia and Europe.

Let’s be aware today that missionary endeavors entail a lot of traveling. Like Paul, missionaries today spend a lot of time and money traveling. As Paul said, “ For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[c] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”[Rom 10:13-15]

Thus, seeking the lost means expenses – time and resources. The great commission means ‘going’ to where the people are. Should there were no missionaries who cross streets and seas, we won’t be able to hear the gospel. Mission trips, either short term or long term, create opportunities for people to hear the gospel. As Paul had exhorted, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”[Eph 5:16] By this, he was implying that opportunities don’t just happen during the evil days, so let’s ‘redeem’ or buy back opportunities. I pray that we would be encouraged to support our church missions endeavor through giving financially and going on mission trips and even in prayers. Thus, let’s make ourselves available in spreading the gospel.

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