Acts 20: (the apostle Paul writes) ²⁰ I did not shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house, ²¹ as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus. ²² And now, as a captive to the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, ²³ except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me.

I don’t always agree with Paul in his writings, particularly his commentary on the role of women in the church, but one cannot doubt his commitment to the gospel. In our passage above it is v.23 really strikes me. The Spirit gave Paul warning that he would face “imprisonment and persecutions”. And yet Paul went anyway. Wow.

Lord this morning I thank you for all the saints who have gone before us. It is by their sacrifice that everlasting life in Jesus is made available to those of us now living. I pray, Lord, that I will be found faithful in passing on the good news of Jesus to the next generation. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.