Today’s Reading: Acts 20 

22 And now, as a captive to the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there…
Acts 20:22

Paul is bought in. 

We’ve discussed before Paul’s zeal for the gospel. Here, we see it outright again, but with that curious phrase, “captive of the Spirit.” 

On the Enneagram, I’m an eight. No one controls me. That’s one of the core principles of my personality. To be a “captive of the Spirit” stands out to me; it’s to suggest no control, as if directed by the Holy Spirit without having a choice. Paul seems to convey it that way! 

Of course, though, we know we have a choice. We can feel the urge of the Holy Spirit, we can know the pull, the sense that we must, and still choose to resist. Paul could have chosen not to go to Jerusalem, where he worried about what awaited. 

But Paul follows. Fair to say the Spirit has captured his heart. He has fully bought in to the gospel, believes in the mission and how God has called him, and trusts God. How do we trust God? That will be the thrust of Sunday’s sermon. For now, we must consider whether we, like Paul, can trust the Spirit, God inside of us, so much that we will follow even into a great unknown, where we worry about what awaits us? 

The Holy Spirit calls. We are part of a larger mission, saved not just for ourselves, but for the benefit of the world around us. The question before us is, will we follow where the Spirit leads? Has God captured our hearts? 

Think
Has God captured your heart? 

Pray
Ask God to show you where you resist the Spirit, where to give God more of your heart. 

Do
Take these questions from Think and Pray on a prayer walk in nature, allowing God to speak to you through creation.

Think, Pray, Do. As we respond in faith to scripture, God moves in power through our minds, hearts, and bodies. We are the people of God. Thanks for reading today. Go in peace. Amen.

Think, Pray, Do devotionals by Ted Goshorn follow the suggested bible reading plan from his website and book, Prayer Changes Us. Find this Bible reading plan at tedgoshorn.org/biblereading. If you have found today’s devotion helpful, don’t forget to subscribe for daily emails at tedgoshorn.org and share with others that we may think, pray, and do faithfully.