Be Still and Know Daily Bible Devotion

Επεισόδια

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  September 16th - Psalm 131:1-2 16.09.2026 2λ

  Psalm 131:1-2 My heart is not proud, LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. CH Spurgeon, the great Victorian Baptist preacher, commented that this is “one of the shortest psalms to read but one of the longest to learn”. Learning to be humble is so tough that anyone who claims to have achieved it has a very long way to go! Humility is a wonderful and exciting quality in a person because the truly humble person knows where they stand before God. They recognise His greatness and power and understand that they are privileged to be His servant. They don’t exaggerate their own importance and are eager to see everything that is best in those around them. I don’t believe King David was suggesting that the humble person avoids difficult issues. Far from it, the humble person is more likely to take on the big challenges. It is the arrogant person who falls flat on their face when they take on great challenges in their own strength and fail. David says that he has become like a weaned child. At the time, children were weaned at about the age of three. It’s as if David was saying that he was like a toddler in his relationship with God. He wasn’t a baby any longer, but he was still continually and humbly dependent on God. And that’s the life God wants for each one of us. Question From whom have you learned most about humility? Prayer Loving God, teach me what it means to be humble and to live like a weaned child. Amen
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  September 15th - Psalm 130:3-4 15.09.2026 2λ

  Psalm 130:3-4 If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. One day in 1738, John Wesley reluctantly attended a Christian meeting In Aldersgate Street, London. He was feeling thoroughly depressed, but during the meeting someone read from Martin Luther’s Preface to the letter of St Paul to the Romans and Wesley felt that his heart was “strangely warmed”. He saw this as the moment when he truly trusted in Christ alone. What is less well known is that, later that same day, Wesley went to St Paul’s Cathedral where he was deeply moved by this particular psalm. It perfectly expressed his experience of salvation through the forgiveness of his sins. The psalmist speaks of the completeness of God’s forgiveness. He doesn’t keep a record of our sins. They are wiped out. When someone has done you wrong, the hardest part is often to forget what has happened, but that’s what God does. He chooses to erase our sins completely from His memory. The psalmist knew that his life was totally distorted by sin. He couldn’t think of standing in God’s presence. But now the door was open to a new life in which he could confidently stand before God and serve Him. This message of forgiveness comes into sharpest focus in the New Testament because it was precisely why Jesus died upon the cross. Through Jesus taking the full weight of our sin upon Himself, He is able to offer us new life. Question How do you respond to the fact that God is willing to forgive and forget all your sins? Prayer Loving God, thank you for Your willingness to set me free from my sins. Amen
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  September 14th - Acts 28:30-31 14.09.2026 2λ

  Acts 28:30-31 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ – with all boldness and without hindrance! Paul’s journey to Rome was an amazing adventure. It was long and difficult, and during it, he and his companions survived a shipwreck. We would love to know far more details but now, in these final verses of Acts, we find Paul settled into a house in Rome. We are informed that he was guarded by a soldier, so he was being kept under what we would normally call house arrest. However, he was clearly given considerable freedom and was able to continue his ministry. There was no keeping Paul down! The book of Acts began with a small, frightened and confused group of Jesus followers waiting in Jerusalem. Jesus gave them instructions to take the good news to the ends of the earth, which seemed impossible at the time. The 28 chapters of this amazing book tell us how it became a reality. Now, at last, we find Paul in the great city of Rome, at the heart of the Roman empire. This should be a great encouragement to us all. There were many times of enormous difficulty and discouragement along the way, but God was at work and His word was fulfilled. As we face our own struggles and problems, we can be confident that God’s Holy Spirit will strengthen us and direct us. Question What encouragement do you take personally from the book of Acts? Prayer Lord God, in my weakness fill me with the power and wisdom of Your Holy Spirit today. Amen
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  September 13th - Acts 24:24-25 13.09.2026 2λ

  Acts 24:24-25 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” Here we meet Paul on the Mediterranean coast in Caesarea, the regional centre of Roman authority. After the plot to kill Paul in Jerusalem, the apostle was brought before Governor Felix. What I love about our verses today is that they are a beautiful illustration of the fact that, whatever his circumstances, Paul just kept witnessing. You couldn’t stop him! One moment he was happy to share his testimony with an angry crowd and the next we find him sitting down with the most powerful man in the land and his wife, telling them the good news. Felix didn’t have a great record. He was Governor of Judaea for eight years and had a reputation for cruelty and a love of bribes. It is said that he was hoping to get a bribe from Paul, so frequently asked to speak with the apostle. We have no idea what impact Paul’s testimony had on Felix and his wife, but that isn’t the issue. What is significant is that Paul seized his opportunity. We must leave with God the outcome of our witnessing. What matters is that we are continually seeking opportunities to speak of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Question Will you pray for an opportunity to share your faith today? Prayer Lord God, thank you for every opportunity that You give me for sharing the good news about Jesus. Amen
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  September 12th - Acts 23:11 12.09.2026 2λ

  Acts 23:11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” Paul was going through an incredibly difficult time. His arrival in Jerusalem had sparked a riot and the Roman authorities struggled to know what to do with him. They didn’t know how to handle religious disputes, so they tried to hand the matter over to the Jewish council. However, when Paul appeared before them, the meeting soon descended into chaos. The Roman commander who was watching the proceedings thought that Paul was in danger of being torn apart, so he ordered his soldiers to take him back into protective custody. By this time, they had discovered that Paul was a Roman citizen, which meant they had to be very careful in how they treated him. In the midst of this confusing and dangerous situation, God spoke to Paul confirming that his witness would continue and would even take him to Rome itself. Paul could have no idea how that word was going to be fulfilled, but in that moment, he didn’t need to know. All he needed was the encouragement that he was doing God’s will, and the knowledge God would be with him. I would love to tell you that your future is going to be problem-free, but God doesn’t promise us that. What He does promise is that He will be with us and that He has vital work for us to do. That should be a massive encouragement for us and should enable us to face the future with confidence and peace. Question Do you look to the future with confidence? Prayer Loving Father, thank you that my future is completely secure in Your hands. Amen
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  September 11th - Acts 22:1-2 11.09.2026 2λ

  Acts 22:1-2 [Paul said:] “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defence.” When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Paul faced intense hostility when he reached Jerusalem. People had heard reports of his ministry among the Gentiles, and he was accused of telling people to disobey the Jewish laws. A riot broke out and the crowd demanded that Paul should be killed. The commander of the Roman regiment was informed that the city was in uproar, so he sent his troops to get hold of Paul. After some confusion, Paul asked the military commander for the opportunity to speak to the crowd and, interestingly, he agreed. This was an incredibly sensitive moment. Many in the crowd were going to hate what Paul had to say, and he knew it. He needed to tread with extreme care. He began by addressing them as brothers and fathers, the same way in which Stephen had commenced his final speech. But what really impressed them was that he spoke in Aramaic, their own language. That showed great sensitivity, and the crowd gave him their full attention. Paul launched into his testimony. He went into the details of his conversion on the road to Damascus and his calling to go and share the good news with the Gentiles. This triggered a huge reaction, and the crowd shouted that he wasn’t fit to live. Paul wouldn’t have been remotely surprised by the crowd’s reaction, but he had achieved what he set out to do. However, he would never have had that opportunity if he hadn’t approached his task with care and sensitivity. Question What do you learn from Paul’s example? Prayer Lord, help me to be as courageous and sensitive as Paul in sharing my testimony with others. Amen
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  September 10th - Acts 21:13 10.09.2026 2λ

  Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” There was no stopping Paul! He was absolutely determined to go to Jerusalem, and no one was able to stand in his way. That’s not to say they didn’t try. When he arrived in Tyre in Syria, he spent a week with the believers there and they prophesied that he shouldn’t go to Jerusalem. Some days later, he went down the coast to the important city of Caesarea, where he met a man named Agabus who had the gift of prophecy. He dramatically took hold of Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands with it. He then declared that the owner of the belt would be bound by the Jews in Jerusalem and then turned over to the Gentiles. Upon hearing this, everyone begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. But he wouldn’t be stopped. If risk assessments had existed in Paul’s day, he would undoubtedly have been told that it was much too risky to head to Jerusalem. But Paul’s mind was made up, and off he went, believing that he was acting in obedience to the Lord. We all face risks in life, and this incident emphasises that there is something far more important than risk: being obedient to Christ. I am convinced that we should always live responsibly and be aware of potential risks, but Paul reminds us that obeying the Lord is what really matters, however risky it might be. Question What risks have you taken in your Christian life? Prayer Lord God, help me to be willing to be obedient to You, whatever the cost. Amen
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  September 9th - Acts 20:36-38 09.09.2026 2λ

  Acts 20:36-38 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. There was clearly a very strong bond between Paul and the Ephesian elders, and this moment of parting was painful. Paul had an absolute conviction in the wonderful future that God had for him. He often spoke with great confidence about the afterlife. Even so, this moment of departure was sad, and the tears flowed. We shouldn’t be afraid of our emotions. At the funeral of a Christian, we always have much to celebrate. Our life is secure in God’s hands for time and eternity. Nevertheless, there is real sadness when a Christian dies, and it is important for us to be open about that. Death cannot separate us from the love of God, but it does separate us from one another for a while. These verses are important for me because they reveal the depth of love that these Christians had for one another. During my years of ministry, I have moved on to a new sphere on a number of occasions. I have always found those moments incredibly painful and never without many tears. In every situation, precious relationships have grown up and deep roots have developed. The pain of moving on has been real, but I don’t regret it because it has revealed the love that I’ve shared with others, and for that I will always be grateful. Question How do you cope with moving on? Prayer Loving God, thank you that You are with me all the time amid all the changes and challenges of life. Amen
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  September 8th - Acts 20:28 08.09.2026 2λ

  Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I suspect most people would not choose to be compared to sheep! It would hardly be seen as a flattering description. Sheep are rarely viewed as the brightest of animals and are generally understood to be easily led. However, God’s people are frequently described as sheep-like in both the Old and New Testaments. It therefore isn’t surprising that as Paul addresses the Ephesian elders in his final talk with them, he speaks of their responsibility to care for the flock. Caring for the Church was such a great responsibility that the person had to be appointed by the Holy Spirit. That is still the case today. If an individual feels an inner conviction that this is something they should do, it should always be greatly welcomed, but it isn’t enough. That inner conviction needs to be carefully weighed and assessed by others who, listening to the Holy Spirit, will seek to discern whether this is God’s will. There are many different aspects to a shepherd’s role, but they are summed up in the word love. We see that supremely in the example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who gladly laid down His life for His sheep. We need to thank God that the Holy Spirit continues to appoint people to the awesome responsibility of church leadership. Question How do you understand the role of the shepherd in church life today? Prayer Thank you Lord for those whom You set apart for leadership in the Church in our day. May they be faithful in guarding, feeding and caring for their flock. Amen
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  September 7th - Acts 20:24 07.09.2026 2λ

  Acts 20:24 [Paul said:] “I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” What’s the purpose of your life? We all have to agree that this is an excellent question, but most of the time we are far too busy to be able to ask it. We may be busy with our work, family, church, hobbies, sport and 1,000 other things, and asking the biggest question of all gets put off. We promise ourselves that we will ask it one day when we’ve got a bit more time! For the apostle Paul, the moment was now, because he recognised that his life was under threat and he might not have much time left. Paul was clear that his life’s work was to communicate the good news about the wonderful grace of God revealed in Jesus. What an amazing ministry he had! His leadership, teaching and example were of incalculable importance, and we are still deeply conscious of our debt to him. In all honesty, our roles are unlikely to have the same world-shaking significance as his. However, each of our lives is important and we need to make sure that we use our time well. We all have unique gifts and opportunities, and God wants us to use them. This life isn’t a rehearsal for anything. It’s the real thing, and we need to ensure that we are giving our best. Question How would you describe the purpose of your life? Prayer Lord God, thank you for the gift of my life and for every opportunity that You give me to serve You. Amen
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  September 6th - Acts 20:18-20 06.09.2026 2λ

  Acts 20:18-20 [Paul] said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears…You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.” I want to tell you about something which regularly happens in our home. When my son leaves for work, I will naturally wish him well, and he always has exactly the same response: “I’ll do my best, Dad.” What is more, I know that he will. And that’s exactly what we’re reading in this passage today – Paul had done his best. Paul had spent three years with the church in Ephesus, which was a very long ministry for him. He clearly loved the people passionately and was always keen to take every opportunity to encourage them. On this particular occasion, he was eager to get to Jerusalem in time for Pentecost, so he decided not to travel to Ephesus but invited their leaders to make the 30-mile journey to the coast to meet him at Miletus. He knew that this was the last time he would speak with them, and it is a moving speech revealing his deep love for the people. Paul wasn’t perfect, and neither are we. But God looks to us, frail as we are, to do our best and, amazingly, our gracious and loving heavenly Father will take that and use it to His glory. Question Are you committed to doing your best for God today? Prayer Lord God, thank you that You are willing to take and use what I give to You today. Amen
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  September 5th - Acts 19:11-12 05.09.2026 2λ

  Acts 19:11-12 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. I have no personal experience of my own handkerchiefs being a blessing to anyone else, and those close to me suggest they probably wouldn’t be! But that’s not the point. God will work in the way He chooses, and in this wonderful period of Paul’s ministry, that was exactly what He chose to do. The reference to the handkerchiefs here is probably to the sweat bands that Paul used in his daily tentmaking work. When we hear about God working in miraculous ways, we are naturally keen to see Him do exactly the same things today. However, I believe our focus needs to be on the fact that God is always acting miraculously. It happens when people get better after a time of illness; when people recover after skilful surgery; when a child is born; when people find new hope; or when we look at the beautiful countryside or watch a majestic sunset. Every day we are being blessed by miracles, and that needs to encourage us to expect God to work in new and amazing ways. Looking at my handkerchiefs or my shadow, I don’t have any particular expectation that God is suddenly going to do amazing miracles with them, but looking at the miraculous God that I know, I find it very easy to believe that He might do so. Question In what ways have you seen God act miraculously in the past week? Prayer Loving God, open my eyes to see the amazing miracles that You are going to do today. Amen
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  September 4th - Acts 18:9-10 04.09.2026 2λ

  Acts 18:9-10 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” Throughout the Bible, we hear God telling people not to be afraid. When God made a covenant with Abram, the father of the nation of Israel, He spoke to him in a vision and told him not to be afraid. Later, we meet Joshua after the death of Moses, and God told him not to be afraid or discouraged “for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Much later, we hear the angel telling a young girl called Mary not to be afraid when she is told she will give birth to the Son of God. The command not to be afraid reminds us how damaging fear can be. God knows that we cannot be effective in serving Him unless we overcome the problem of fear. Fear takes many forms, and it can creep up on us. It may be a fear of what other people think of us or a fear of failure, loss, ill health or death. Just because you are normally a confident person doesn’t mean that you are impervious to fear. We need to look to God and hand over our fears to Him, reminding ourselves that He is with us and will never leave us. Question What are you most fearful of at the moment? What are you doing with that fear? Prayer Loving Father, thank you for understanding me so well and giving me the strength to face up to my fears. Amen
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  September 3rd - Acts 17:32-34 03.09.2026 2λ

  Acts 17:32-34 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” At that, Paul left the Council. Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Paul received a complete range of reactions to his speech to the Areopagus. Some laughed, others wanted to hear more and yet others became believers. You couldn’t get a more varied response than that! First of all, there were those who laughed with contempt. They found the idea of the resurrection absurd. It is never pleasant to be laughed at, but Paul knew that the Christian message will always seem ridiculous to some people. Other people were sufficiently stimulated by Paul’s message to want to hear more from him at a later date. When people first hear the Christian message, it often comes as such a surprise that they don’t know how to take it all on board. They need time to stop and reflect. We need to be very patient and continually willing to talk with people about their questions and doubts. And, finally, some people believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus. How thrilled Paul must have been that one of the members of this distinguished body should make a commitment to follow Christ. And remember that Paul had never intended to be in Athens at all! He was merely waiting around for a few days while Silas and Timothy caught up with him. Paul’s eagerness to share the good news of Jesus was unceasing. Question How would you support someone who was being mocked for their faith? Prayer Lord God, help me to share Your good news with other people, whatever their reaction. Amen
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  September 2nd - Acts 17:22-23 02.09.2026 2λ

  Acts 17:22-23 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Paul must have been delighted to get an opportunity to speak to the Areopagus. This was a highly respected body which brought together the leading thinkers of Athenian society. I love the graciousness and sensitivity of Paul’s approach to them. He wanted to build a bridge with these learned people. He observed that he had been looking around the city and noticed that they were very religious. They would have loved that. But he went further, remarking that he had come upon one particular altar which was “to an unknown god”. I am sure that his hearers were flattered by the care with which Paul had surveyed the situation, and they were all ears. If we are to speak compellingly to our society, we too need to build a bridge. Attacking people, however wrong they may be, is never a way of building a relationship! Paul’s sensitive approach didn’t mean that he watered down his message. He simply ensured that what he said made sense to his hearers. Having built a bridge, he was then able to get to the heart of his message and urge his hearers to repent. We have much to learn from this. Most people in our society have not a single clue about the Christian message and we need to communicate by starting where they are. Question How could Paul’s approach help us as we share the good news? Prayer Loving God, help us to speak relevantly and clearly to our society. Amen
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  September 1st - Acts 17:17-18 01.09.2026 2λ

  Acts 17:17-18 [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. We have much to learn from Paul. When he went to a new place, he normally visited the synagogue first. There he would find not only Jews but also people who were interested in the faith but hadn’t made a full commitment. It was clearly a good place to talk about his faith, and he was ideally qualified to speak with understanding to both Jews and Gentiles. But he didn’t leave it at that. He also went regularly to the public square. That was a more random activity, and I love the way that Luke records him meeting those “who happened to be there”. As if that wasn’t enough, he also entered into lively debate with the Stoic and Epicurean philosophers. Paul was delighted to engage in debate with all of them. Paul teaches us the need for flexibility in our approach to spreading the good news. We will of course talk about our faith in our churches, but we need to be continually looking beyond. Two thousand years ago, Jesus told His disciples to “Go”, and He still does! We need to take the good news of Jesus to coffee shops, pubs, places of work, retirement homes, youth clubs, social media and wherever people meet. Just like Paul, we need to grab every opportunity to speak about Jesus. Question Can you think of a new place where you could speak about Jesus? Prayer Lord God, thank you that You have given us such wonderfully good news to share. Amen
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  August 31st - Acts 17:16 31.08.2026 2λ

  Acts 17:16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. We have no reason to think that Paul intended to spend time in Athens. He was merely there for a few days while he waited for Silas and Timothy to catch up with him. The threats to his safety had got too serious in Berea, so he had been escorted south to the relative safety of Athens. He surely needed a good break after the dangers and pressures of the recent months of ministry. However, Paul wasn’t one for holidays, so he spent his time walking around the city reflecting on all that he saw. Politically, Athens had become far less significant than it had been in the past, but it was still a leading centre of culture. It was famous for its sculpture, literature and philosophy, and Paul was clearly fascinated by all that he observed - but also deeply distressed. The city was full of temples and images of pagan gods, and Paul, who had been brought up as a very strict Jew, was alarmed. I find this a deeply challenging verse. We too live in a society which is full of idols, and it seems to me that the Church is hardly troubled by this at all. We have come to accept that that’s just the way it is – unfortunate, but just one of those things. Vibrant Christian evangelism and mission occurs when the Church wakes up and feels, as Paul did, deep distress at the idolatry of society. Question What are the main idols in contemporary society? Prayer Lord God, help me to open my eyes to our world’s desperate need for You. Amen
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  August 30th - Acts 17:11 30.08.2026 2λ

  Acts 17:11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Every preacher longs to meet people like the Bereans. They were really open to the Christian message, but they didn’t simply accept everything that Paul and Silas had to say. They looked carefully at the Old Testament scriptures to make sure what they had been taught was right. Having been a preacher for many years, I can’t tell you how much I love it when people question what I’ve said. Although I will always seek to write and teach carefully, I’m far from perfect, and I need to be kept on my toes. I encourage you to get to grips with the Bible. If these daily notes help you to get into God’s word, that’s great, but don’t leave it there. I would always encourage you to do more digging. It is particularly valuable to get to grips with the whole Bible. Some parts are easy to understand and bring immediate encouragement. Others are harder work and you will need to spend much more time to understand their meaning. But it is all the word of God, and you will gain enormous blessing from getting to know it better. We are all different, and there isn’t one right way of studying the Bible. What matters is that, like the Bereans, we are open-minded and always eager to learn more. Question What are you doing to get to grips with the Bible? Prayer Lord God, thank you for the gift of the Bible. Help me to appreciate it more and more. Amen
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  August 29th - Acts 16:25-26 29.08.2026 2λ

  Acts 16:25-26 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. The ministry of Paul and Silas in Philippi soon hit the buffers when they healed a slave girl who was a fortune teller. She had made good money for her owners until the moment God healed her, and they were furious when they realised their source of income had disappeared. They dragged Paul and Silas into the marketplace, where the two men were beaten and imprisoned. Since they’d had a very specific call from God to serve Him in Macedonia, you wouldn’t be surprised if they were feeling very let down by Him. But there they were in a top security prison cell praying and singing hymns to God! What amazing men they were. To cap it all, the prison was suddenly shaken by an earthquake. This is a gripping story, and it helps us to see what Paul meant when he wrote in Ephesians 5:20 about “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. On the face of it, Paul and Silas didn’t have anything to give thanks for when they were slung into that prison cell. Everything seemed to have gone disastrously wrong. But when the focus of our lives is God Himself, however terrible the circumstances, we will always have reason to give thanks. Question For what reason can you give thanks to God right now? Prayer Lord God our Father, whatever is going on in my life, I always have reason to praise You. Thank You that You are always worthy of my praise. Amen
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  August 28th - Acts 16:15 28.08.2026 2λ

  Acts 16:15 When Lydia and the members of her household were baptised, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. Paul’s first convert in Europe was a businesswoman. Lydia came from what we now know as western Turkey and was a dealer in the purple cloth for which her home area was famous. As Paul travelled around, he normally began his ministry in a synagogue, but it would seem that there wasn’t one in Philippi. So he went to the river, where he met up with a group of women who gathered together to pray. As Paul spoke with them, Lydia responded to his message and was baptised. It is fascinating to see that her first response was to offer hospitality, and it seems that she was very insistent. Hospitality was crucial for the early Church because there were no Christian buildings for many years. The only way they could meet was by people generously opening up their homes. In many ways, our homes are an extension of our personalities, and it is possible to become extremely possessive of them. The suggestion that “an Englishman’s home is his castle” isn’t just a jokey saying. It is possible to be defensive and selfish about where we live. However, the New Testament frequently encourages hospitality. It is good if we have a secure home that we love, but in common with all God’s gifts, our homes are given to us so that we can give them away. Question In what ways have you experienced the blessing of Christian hospitality? Prayer God our Father, thank you for the gift of my home and for the privilege of being able to share it with others. Amen