Thursday, May 28, 2020

Thursday Devotional - Contentment in Confinement?


I never dreamed we would still be living under “stay home, stay safe” orders. It’s been 2 ½ months! The first few weeks were especially difficult. I remember reading Acts 24 about two weeks into our confinement and took great encouragement from it! We weren’t in jail for over 2 years in Caesarea like Paul. Two years is a whole lot worse than 2 weeks or 2 months. Plus, I’ve been able to get outside almost every single day for a jog, walk or bike ride.

Not only was Paul in prison for two years, but the Jews were still plotting his death!

Acts 24:27-25:3                27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison. Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.

I don’t know why the Jews were still so angry and plotting Paul’s death two years later. I would think they would have forgotten about him or at least moved on knowing he was in prison.

Anyway, it’s never recorded that Paul complained about his situation or wondered when it would end. In fact, in Philippians 4:11b-12 Paul says: …I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Paul wrote Philippians while he was confined in Rome under house arrest, after his 2 years in prison in Caesarea. So, he was definitely speaking from plenty of experience with trouble, including confinement!

Would others around us say we are content in any circumstance? Or, has our confinement brought out greater frustration and impatience?

Lord, help us develop greater contentment by relying on and trusting you through this time of confinement.  

Alice

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