Goodbook
messages arrive every Tuesday and Friday with a Scripture reading and ideas for
how to apply the reading in our lives. We are reading through the book of Acts.
For additional Scripture reading, you can follow the Advanced Track.Reading: Acts 18:18
Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the believers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken.
Application:
I can imagine a question appearing on Jeopardy or some other trivia show that reads: “Where did the Apostle Paul get his hair cut?” Doesn’t this seem like a random, silly piece of trivia? Why would the author mention a detail like this? Maybe Cenchreae was the hot spot to get your hair cut. My son recently got his haircut at Boozelbees in Plainfield. It was quite the experience. He sat in a chair that looked like Lightning McQueen in front of a TV where he could watch a show during his haircut. Now that’s a cool place to have a haircut!
My guess is that this little detail had more significance than that. We are told that he cut his hair because of a vow he had taken. We are not sure exactly what kind of vow he had taken. But different vows were frequently taken to express thanks for deliverance from grave dangers. Shaving the head marked the end of the vow.
So maybe the author included this detail to let us know that Paul made a habit of expressing thanks to God. Paul experienced some rough times as a missionary, but God was faithful to see him through each challenge and deliver him from dangers. No matter how tough things got, Paul always found reasons to give God thanks. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul writes, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” Apparently this was not lip service. He actually practiced this in his life.
A while back I did a message on giving God a thank offering – offering up to God thanks and praise. I challenged the congregation to give God a thank offering every day. That practice had a wonderful impact in my life. Every day I was thinking of things to thank God for. Even in frustrating moments, I tried to think of reasons to give God thanks. For example, I was stuck driving behind someone who was driving below the speed limit. I was a little agitated, but then I offered up a quick thank offering to God: “Thank you God that there are some people who respect safety guidelines on the road and drive within the speed limit so others do not get hurt.” At the end of that week I was much more aware of God’s blessings and much more filled with gratitude and joy.
I do not know how long Paul’s vow lasted, but maybe he periodically took weeks where he focused on giving God thanks and praise for what he had and for all that God had given him. Helen Keller once said, “So much has been given to me; I have no time to ponder over that which has been denied.” What is something you can give God thanks for?
1) Express your thanks to God.
Share your comments and application ideas…
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