Daily Dose of Hope

December 18, 2025

Scripture – Acts 20

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, We are so grateful that your mercies are new every single morning. No matter what our week has been like, we can come to you today afresh and anew. Lord, forgive us for our many failings. We want to do better. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are getting close to finishing this reading plan after going through the Gospels and now the book of Acts. Today, we walk through Acts 20.

We start with more of Paul's travels. He stops by a number of the churches to encourage them but also has to take a number of circuitous routes to avoid those who wished him harm. Paul relies so much on the Spirit here. He knows where to go and when to go, based on where God is leading him.

At his stop in Troas, Paul spends a lot of time preaching. I mean, he basically preaches all day and night. One young man, Eutychus, nods off and then falls out of the third floor window and dies. Paul sees this happen and rushes outside, grabs him, and through the power of Jesus, brings him back from the dead. Then, Paul keeps on preaching. Does not miss a beat. Anyone who ever thinks I preach too long needs to read this passage.

Towards the end of the chapter, Paul is leaving the elders at the church of Ephesus, people he has worked and preached alongside for quite some time. These are people he has grown to love and who love him dearly. They are brothers and sisters in Christ. They are family. And they know they will never see one another again in this earthly life.

When I was traveling in Germany with my Doctorate cohort in 2018, I met a pretty extraordinary South African couple who dedicated their lives to witnessing to Syrian refugees in some of the most dangerous places on earth. Our little group shared, prayed, laughed, and cried with them. My own life journey is forever changed because of the one day I spent with them. I say all of that to make this point. As we left each other's company that day, we were sad because we knew that chances were we would never see each other again this side of heaven. But, we also rejoiced because we knew that we knew that we would spend eternity together.

I think about this as I read about Paul leaving his dear friends. They know that life circumstances will never allow them to be together again in this world. But friends, we aren't simply citizens of earth, we are citizens of heaven! Our time apart is short compared to the eternity we will spend together in heaven. I try to remember this when I officiate a funeral of a loved brother or sister in Christ. Yes, it is very painful to say good-bye. We miss them. But if we know Jesus, then it isn't really good-bye. It's simply "See ya later! Until we meet again!" The pain and sadness are real. We must acknowledge that. But we can trust that God will turn our mourning into dancing. Thank you, Jesus.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki