God at Work
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I couldn’t help but think that our study in Acts 23:12-25 reads like a screenplay for a riveting historical drama: murder plots, vows, appearance of long lost relatives, unlikely sources assisting the protagonist, military personnel soldering through the night to transport a prisoner. I think we can agree that God is the ultimate Director, Producer, Editor of our lives, and this story in Acts is a beautiful display of His work in one man’s life. Nowhere in our text this week does it refer to God doing a miracle, it doesn’t say God did this or God did that. But, God is at work in this story, my story and your story.
Twenty years ago I was flying alone from Sacramento back to St. Louis when we hit thunderstorms unlike anything I had experienced on a plane. The ride was bumpier than any roller coaster at Six Flags and the lady behind me was calling out, “Whoa, whoa!!” as if she was riding a bucking bronco at the rodeo. I was pretty close to tears, sweating profusely and my heart was pumping like I’d been running a marathon when a man came walking down the aisle, headed to what I assume was the restroom. The flight attendant yelled at him to please sit down and stay buckled, so he plopped down in the row across from me (the plane was not very full, empty seats in every row). For the next two hours this man talked to me, made me laugh and helped me get through the scariest plane ride I’ve ever had.
My plane story is nowhere as interesting as what’s happening to Paul, it’s not even my best example of things God has done in my life or my best plane story, but that’s the point. It’s not just health, safety, family, friends: it’s everything! Proverbs 16:33 tells us, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” God is at work in the details of our lives every hour, every minute, every second of the day using natural circumstances to accomplish His will. For Paul, he brought forth a nephew we never heard of, a guard who was willing to do as Paul instructed and a commander who was willing to listen to the young nephew, and it goes on and on. Where can you see God at work in your story today?
-Brenda Wooff