Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

11 December 2024

Reading From Acts 20:4-23:35

“On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.”

–Acts 20:7-12

     For the Jews, the Sabbath was and is set apart for rest and worship.  It was established as the seventh day of the week.  However, the Lord rose from the dead on the first day of the week, here in Acts 20 the believers came together to break bread and listen to Paul’s sermon on the first day of the week, and Paul instructed the Christians of Corinth to set aside their offerings on the first day of the week. 

When believers become legalistic about which day to worship the Lord, it betrays the fact that they have lost sight of the lifestyle the Lord calls us to.  We are to worship, fellowship, disciple, evangelize, and minister to others every day of the week, not just Saturday or Sunday.  Every day is holy and we are to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth with everything we think, say and do. 

     Paul loved people so much that he wanted to make every opportunity to share as much spiritual knowledge with them as possible.  For this reason, the church lit many lamps and stayed up until midnight listening to him.  Poor Eutychus was literally talked to death.  He fell asleep and fell three stories to his death.  Praise the Lord for His power that raised this young man from the dead!  What is hilarious to me is that after he was raised to life, Paul continued to preach until daylight came.  The young man went home healthy and Paul went on his way sharing the love and message of Jesus with others around the ancient world. 

“Lord, help us to make every day of the week a day to honor You.  Bless us with Your wisdom to know and value the Sabbath, but remind us that the Sabbath was made for our benefit, we were not made to keep the Sabbath.  I pray that our faith would increase that we would see miracles such as those recorded in the Scriptures and give You all the praise and all the glory.  Give us the passion for Your Word and for Your Name that we would want to stay up all night listening and learning more about You.  Amen.”

One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.

 –Romans 14:5-7