Straight Course to Cos
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Daily Reading: Acts 21
We came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara… (Acts 21.1)
Devotional Thought: Paul had told the Ephesian elders: "I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus" (Acts 20.22-24). Paul then put his money where his mouth was when he set "a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara." If you look at a map, you can see that Paul made a beeline for Jerusalem! He had a “Holy Have-To” burning in his heart.
How straight is your course? Do you have a destination in mind? Is God calling you to a closer walk? To a specific mission? Are you obeying that call or avoiding it? We must work diligently to remove obstacles and follow the call of God:
· Is God calling you to work with children? Don’t make personal decisions that would hamper your time and ability to fulfill that call.
· Has God convicted you about the biblical practice of tithing? Do not pile up debt to the amount that you cannot honor God with your tithe.
· Has God nudged your heart to read his Word more? Then don’t watch TV so late that you cannot get up early and spend time with him.
· Has God shown you a way of escape from addiction? If so, refuse to go places or hang around people that will drag you down.
Set a straight course to Cos!
Prayer: O God, burn a "Holy Have-To" into my heart! And, then give me courage and tenacity to set my course straight toward its fulfillment. I pray this in the name of Jesus - whose "Holy Have-To" led him to the cross. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 78.17-31
"Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved.
They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?
He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people? ”
Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel,
because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power.
Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven,
and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven.
Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance.
He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind;
he rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas;
he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings.
And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved.
But before they had satisfied their craving, while the food was still in their mouths,
the anger of God rose against them, and he killed the strongest of them and laid low the young men of Israel."