There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably. (Acts 28:7, NIV)
Are you a traveler? This time of year, most of us take to the road at least once, visiting friends or relatives, or taking a vacation. Nearly all of it is time away from our regular routines, and often travel brings a welcome respite even with its accompanying demands.
At Links Players, we emphasize the infusion of our faith into all that we do. In the LINKS acrostic, this shows up as the I: “Integrate Christ’s reign and integrity into all of life.” As an inquiry, we may ask ourselves: Is the activity I am considering something Jesus would have me do? And if so, how would he have me do it?
When it comes to vacations, these questions have frequently plagued me. If my life in Christ is meant to be a life of purpose, even my vacations should be purposeful. And yet this seems so outside the design for vacations, which is that they should lack any real purpose other than to “get away.” In kingdom terms, I’ve never been altogether comfortable with the concepts of relaxation and self-gratifying entertainment.
And yet, I encounter passages like Acts 28. The purpose of the disciples’ travels was anything but pleasure. Paul was being transported to Rome, where he would have an audience before Caesar and plead his case—that the Temple leaders were out to kill him not because he was a criminal but because he preached that Jesus was the Messiah. A group of friends, including Luke (the writer of the book of Acts), traveled with Paul to be his support team. This was no light-hearted duty.
But in the midst of this journey, the companions found themselves on the Mediterranean island of Malta, where they were treated with “unusual kindness,” “hospitality,” and “honor” by commoners and officials alike. If I were writing Acts, I would think this incidental information, not worth mentioning in such a purposeful context. Luke, though, considered it noteworthy, a meaningful part of the trip.
I have come to find, then, that while vacations and travels may not have the same purposes as our everyday lives, they can have powerful purposes all the same. There is purpose in uncluttered rest, in uncommon service, in unmatchable natural wonder—all of these connect us with God. And there is purpose in spending time with people, both those we know well and those we meet along the way.
Make it a point when you travel this season to seek and set your purpose ahead of time. And make it a point to walk with Jesus, wherever he takes you!
—
Jeff Hopper
November 28, 2012
Copyright 2012 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.