“Imprisonment and afflictions await me.”

Acts 20:22-30, And now, behold, 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, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

Paul addresses the elders from Ephesus knowing that he will be facing “imprisonment and afflictions,” and putting his life on the line for the ministry given him by the Lord. He has a view of his life as being in the hands of the Lord, and being used for His purposes, no matter what happens to him. Do we see our lives in His hands being used by Him each day?

Give us Your perspective to be used for Your purposes even in troubling times.

ESV Lectionary