Just You And The Creator

Hello and welcome to Van Life Devotions. Today we are in a beautiful seaport town that I have never heard off and yet it is mentioned in the Bible. We come across this place in one verse – Acts 20 verse 13, “Paul went by land to Assos, where he had arranged for us to join him, while we traveled by ship” (Acts 20:13 NLT)).

Paul was on his third missionary trip, and he and companions were about to leave Troas. As part of his second mission trip, Troas was the place where Paul had the vision of the Macedonian man begging Paul to help them in Philippi. He was now on his third mission’s trip when again he was in Troas. This time Paul was teaching throughout the night which included a young boy who fell asleep and dropped three floors to his death and yet God brought him back to life! Now that’s one sermon you would never forget.

The next day Paul’s companions set sail to Assos, but Paul decided to walk there. This is a distance of 34 kilometres. I wonder why Paul wanted to walk while others sailed to Assos? It got me thinking that Jesus sometimes withdrew from his disciples to be alone.

If Paul was an introvert, then I would understand. Introverts need space to reenergize. When I was pastoring at our Canberra church, I would preach at the Saturday congregation, then on the following morning would preach at the two morning congregations and then back again for the Sunday evening congregation. I always got around to as many people as I could to say hi and check in to see how they are. By Sunday lunch I was spent! When Leisl (my extraverted wife) asked me who can we go out to lunch with, I would just stare at her in panic. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to spend time with more people; it was because I was mentally and physically spent. I needed to be alone to recharge.

Whatever personality you may be, its ok and even encouraged to be alone to not only recharge but to also reflect on what has just happened. Paul had just preached throughout the night and witnessed a dead boy resurrected back to life. No wonder he needed to process what had just happened. 

Maybe as part of that processing, Paul needed to spend some time with the Lord. If Jesus needed to be alone with His heavenly Father, how much more do we? So maybe Paul took this opportunity to walk and commune with God? Maybe Paul was hoping for another Damascus Road experience? In the busyness of your schedule, carving out time to commune with our Lord not only recharges you spiritually, but He can give you clarity during all that is going on around you. And to do so in nature is something extra special.  

Let’s pray.

Dear God. Thank you for this one verse that through a bit of imagination can help us to see the benefit of being alone amid our busyness.

O God, preserve us who travel; surround us with your loving care; protect us from every danger; and bring us in safety to our journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

David Moyes