As Christians, we get used to serving Christ in the ordinary routines of life. If we are serious about our walk with Him, we thank Him for daily necessities, read the Bible regularly, and worship often with His people. We also instruct our families in His ways, try to glorify Him at work, and seek opportunities to share our faith with others.
But there are times when our routines are disrupted, and we find ourselves in situations in which our usual spiritual habits do not seem to fit. We may be on a vacation in an unfamiliar country or with an unusual schedule. We may be in the hospital for surgery or recuperating from it at home.
But the experience of the Apostle Paul teaches us that the Lord opens doors of service even when things are not normal. In fact, it can be argued that Paul never had the luxury of a “normal” life. His witness took him through very disruptive experiences, including beating, riots, imprisonment, and shipwrecks. In this week’s lesson, we find him on a foreign island among unfamiliar people. Yet even there God opened opportunities for him to minister (Bible Expositor and Illuminator Union Gospel Press, Summer Quarter 2022).