Home!

Daily Reading: Acts 28

Scripture Focus: And so we came to Rome. (Acts 28.14)

Devotional Thought: As I have mentioned in the past, Lana and I are homebodies. But in recent weeks, we have been away from home quite a bit. Some of our excursions were for pleasure, others for family needs, and a sad and victorious journey for a funeral. But, how sweet it has been to go through the little valley, round the bend, and top the ridge to see our home. Home!

Coming home fills our hearts with peace, with satisfaction, and with hope. I wonder if that is what Paul felt when he came to Rome. While it was not home to him, there seemed to be a yearning, a sense of destination to his missionary travels. Rome! He longed for it in his spirit (Acts 19.21, Romans 15.24) and was comforted by it in his trials (Acts 23.11).

Those simple words in Acts 28 - and so we came to Rome - reflect a much deeper experience than simply the end of a journey. Paul came to Rome through great trials: rejection by his countrymen, hard work, sleepless nights, unjust beatings, accusation and arrest, three plots to kill him, unlawful arrest and imprisonment, rejected appeal, and finally a shipwreck. The sight of Rome filled his heart with a sense of arrival, of fulfillment, of destiny. In his spirit, he was home.

One day, we will lay aside our burdens and trials, our hurts and our struggles. We will come through the valley, round the bend, and top the ridge to see the lights of heaven. The gates will swing open, and Jesus will greet us. We will be home.

Prayer: Lord, at times we feel the burdens and perplexities of life pressing against us so hard, that we struggle to believe. But, we do believe, Lord, and we know that one day we will be home. Thank you for preparing a place for us. Help us to be faithful to the end. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 74.18-23

18 Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs, and a foolish people reviles your name. 19 Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beasts; do not forget the life of your poor forever.

20 Have regard for the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence. 21 Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name.

22 Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day! 23 Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually!