Fallen Yet Fortunate

This morning as we continue in our study through the book of Acts we consider the story of Paul and his missionary team in Macedonia and Eutychus revived at Troas. Acts 20:1-16 is a story about the grace of God, the need for teamwork and encouragement, and the danger of spiritual sleepiness. The teachings of the Bible present a correlation between our need for encouragement and the call to encourage with our spiritual condition. As the author of Hebrews writes, "Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception" (Hebrews 3:12-13).

Like Eutychus, we have fallen. We've fallen short and fallen out. We have been spiritual dead in need of riving and help. But like Eutychus, we are fortunate. There may have been a series of miserable events, but it's led to a happier outcome. If you are in Jesus, you are fallen, yet you are fortunate. Your sins are stories of His grace to you. We pray that His grace towards us will not be in vain, but as we're reminded and grow in grace, that we would be empowered to encourage others with the encouragement we've received from Jesus. May God give us grace as we seek to encourage one another, stay awake, and work together as a team.