Be the Exclamation Mark!

We often remember extraordinary evens and where we were when they happened. Yesterday was September 11, and most people relived that day (the thoughts, the sounds, the smells, the prayers) and thought about where they were. I was pregnant with Maddie and playing with 4 year old kids on the playground in Poolville. We lived through an event that will be forever etched in the history books. Just like this story of Eutychus. It was an extraordinary event and I'm sure everyone remembered where they were when it happened. It was also in the best history book of all, the Bible. 

Read Acts 20:1-12
Title in NIV: Paul ministers in Greece and Macedonia; Eutychus falls to his death, but is raised to life.

Paul is on his third missionary journey. He wanted to visit the Christians because he felt the need to correct any misunderstandings in the churches he had planted. He spoke many words of encouragement to the people. When he arrived in Greece, he stayed there 3 months. A plot to kill him arose. So, he went back through Macedonia. Seven men are listed that sent with Paul. I have to admit I have never heard of them except for Timothy. 

Soparer is only mentioned once in scripture...here. 
Aristarchus is one of the men seizes in the last blog when Demetrius the silversmith caused the uproar. He is mentioned 5 times in scripture. All associated with accompanying Paul on his journey. 
Secundus is only mentioned once...here. 
Gaius is mentioned 5 times. He is also one who was seized with Aristarchus. He was very hospitable and the whole church seemed to enjoy that gift he used. Paul baptized Gaius. Paul wrote 3 John to Gaius. 
Tychicus is mentioned 5 times. Paul calls him a beloved brother and a faithful servant in the Lord. Paul sent him with a letter to Ephesus to tell them how Paul was and what he was doing. 
Trophimus is mentioned 3 times. The last time he is mentioned, Paul left him in Miletus because he was sick. 

While these men were at Troas with Paul, they broke bread on the first day of the week. Paul was leaving the next day so he talked until midnight. Eutychus went into a deep sleep and since he was sitting in a window on the third floor, he fell to his death. Paul went downstairs and threw himself on the man and proclaimed that he was alive. Then he went upstairs, broke bread and ate. Paul talked until daylight and left. The people took the man home alive and were comforted. 

Raising the man from the dead was just like an exclamation mark on Paul's lesson to the people. I bet they remembered that for a very long time. I bet it strengthened their faith, their zeal and their boldness to share what Jesus has done. 

Does your faith feel dull? Does your life feel uneventful? Do you feel bla? Ask God for an exclamation mark to be stamped on your heart today! You can also BE someone's exclamation mark to revive their weary soul.