Acts 28:30 – RECEIVED ALL THAT CAME
Acts 28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
Paul had been promised by God that he would preach the gospel in Rome. Paul ended up reaching Rome as a prisoner. Even though Paul was a prisoner, God blessed Paul by allowing him to be a prisoner in his own rented house rather than be a prisoner in some prison. Because God blessed Paul, Paul was able to preach the gospel for two years while waiting to be released in prison. Granted, Paul could have preached in Rome once he was released, but God had a plan for Paul and he enabled Paul to obey HIM even though he was a prisoner.
As long as Paul was a prisoner, he was not free to go where he wanted when he wanted. Instead, Paul was forced to stay in one place and preach the gospel to those whom God brought to him. When God did not bring people to him, Paul was able to write letters to those whom he had ministered to in the past so as to encourage them to walk in the ways of the Lord.
What would you do if you were required to stay in your house for two years without being allowed to leave? Would you be able to find a way to serve God? How would you spend your time, would you spend it wisely or would you squander your time selfishly pursuing the lusts of your flesh?
It did not matter that Paul was not free to go where he wanted when he wanted, Paul understood that he was accountable to God and that he had to serve God right where HE had placed him. Paul was patient with God and even though his day in court did not come as quickly as he desired, God put his time to good use.
You do not know how long God is going to keep you in your current situation. Maybe you have vision to doing all sorts of wonderful things for the Lord but the real question what are you doing to serve HIM today. Are you faithfully serving God right where HE has placed you today? Are you looking for opportunities to serve God today?
It is easy to focus on the future and say that when God blesses you with x, then you will do y. it is easy to demand that God do something for you first before you agree to serve him. Too many of us are looking for all the circumstances to be perfect before we serve the Lord. Paul did not have perfect circumstances but he still found a way to serve God right where he was placed.
God is not going to give us what we want when we want. We must first learn to be faithful in the little that God has given us before we can expect HIM to bless us with the great visions that we have. Prove to God that you can be HIS faithful steward and you will soon see many new exciting ways that God can bless you.
Paul did not know if he was going to be released or if he was going to be killed. For all he knew he was going to be spending the rest of his life under house arrest. Paul could feel sorry for himself or he could allow God to be God and put all his faith in God.
Maybe God will bless you one of these days by giving you the desires of your heart and open the doors for you to minister unto HIM just as you desire. However, before that happens, you first need to be patient with where God has placed you and you need to look for opportunities to be faithful in what you consider least.