Sweeter Than Honey: Paul Preaches His Testimony

What if we spent a few quiet moments with God each morning? What if we were intentional about making time for it? And what if we committed to doing that all year long, only to find that by the end of the year, we had read the entirety of God's Word—His Love Letter to us? 

​How many times have you, on January 1, resolved to read the Bible from cover to cover in a year? I’ve made that commitment more times than I can count, and I’ve failed more times than I’d like to admit. But a few years ago, I tried something different—I used a one-year, chronological order of book authorship, Bible Reading Itinerary. Did you know that Genesis wasn’t the first book of the Bible written? While these plans can vary, since it's impossible to pinpoint exact dates for some books, the plan I used began with the book of Job. Let me introduce you to Sweeter Than Honey, a book patterned after that Bible Reading Itinerary.

​Sweeter Than Honey is a 365-day devotional journey ​that leads the reader
​through God's Word ​in chronological order of book authorship.

On Tuesdays, through the end of the year, I’d love for you to join me as we travel through parts of Sweeter Than Honey​ together! I also encourage you to join the private Sweeter Than Honey Facebook group, where you can share your thoughts and connect with like-minded, Christian friends.

Acts 26-28: Paul Preaches His Testimony

It was prophesied, in Acts 9:15, that Paul would preach “before the Gentiles and kings.” It’s exciting to read of all the high officials and common people Paul has the opportunity to testify before of Jesus Christ. The irony of it all is that in many cases, especially before the high officials and kings, God used the Jewish people to put Paul in the position to have so great an opportunity. Today, we see Paul giving his own defense before Agrippa, king of Judea, and telling him of his conversion on the road to Damascus.

"So Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You have permission to speak for yourself.’ Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense." Acts 26:1

We read yesterday, in Acts 25:12, that while Paul was held in custody in Caesarea, he appealed to have his case heard by Caesar himself. This was Paul’s right as a Roman citizen. 

Following his defense made to King Agrippa, Paul is put on a ship for Rome. On his way to Rome, an angel appears to Paul and tells him not to be afraid, that he must stand before Caesar, and that God has granted safety to him and all that sail with him.

There is a storm at sea and Paul tells his shipmates, "Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to Whom I belong and Whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.” (Acts 27:22-25)

The storm was great! The Bible calls it a “northeaster” (27:14) and “no small tempest” (27:20). The ship, with 276 persons aboard, was shipwrecked and run aground on the Island of Malta. Here’s another opportunity for Paul to testify of Jesus Christ in an unlikely place to people he never expected to meet.

Finally, Paul arrives in Rome. More opportunities! We know that, although the Bible does not record the actual account, Paul must have stood before Caesar at some point. When writing to the Philippians from Rome, Paul wrote “All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household” (Philippians 4:22). So it seems certain that he had made friends with those in the household of Caesar while waiting for his case to be heard. Paul was never surprised by or wasted an opportunity to tell of his faith in Jesus Christ and preach his testimony. Let this be a powerful lesson to us today! We shouldn’t be either. Look for the opportunities to preach your testimony and to tell of the wonderful, redeeming goodness of our God!

​How can we, like Paul, see unexpected challenges as divine opportunities to share the hope of Jesus with those we never expected to meet?

About Sweeter Than Honey

When I read God’s Word each morning, it brings inspiration and insight that guides my day. Let's treat His Word as the Love Letter it truly is, finding peace in chaos and strength in our weaknesses.

​Even on our busiest days, we can carve out a few minutes to focus on what truly matters. Whether it's early in the morning when the house is quiet or late at night after everyone else is asleep, we can make time for God’s Word.

Let's be intentional, letting His truths inspire us to live out our faith daily, in a way that draws others to the peace and joy we've found in Him.

Remember, God sees you, knows you by name, and cares about every detail of your life. Let's dive into His Love Letter, together!

​My top tip for successful Bible study? Be intentional with a plan. Without one, it's unlikely to happen. That's why I created Sweeter Than Honey—to give busy women like us a manageable, attainable plan to read through the Bible in a year.

Sweeter Than Honey is a 365-day devotional journey inspired by Psalm 119:103: “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” This book is designed to help you find peace amid chaos and strength in your weakest moments, all while encouraging you in your daily walk with God. Each day’s reading itinerary and devotion will guide you through God’s Word, in chronological order of book authorship, and by year's end you will have read through the entire Bible!

“You’ll find encouragement on every page of this book—encouragement to seek God above all else. The strong, spiritual emphasis will challenge you to turn to God for daily direction and experience His presence in a whole new and intentional way. Sweeter Than Honey will become more to you than just another daily devotional, it will become a keepsake as you record prayers and participate in thought-provoking, practical exercises that touch every aspect of your life and draw you closer to our Creator.” —from the Prologue

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What People Are Saying About Sweeter Than Honey

"If you are looking for an inspiring reading plan to take you through the Bible in a year, please consider this wonderful book. Using a chronological reading plan, this is truly a 'devotional journey' through the Bible. Each day’s plan has a Scripture reading assignment and a beautifully-written devotion in which the author directs us to the heart of the passage. She then gives us principles to apply to our daily walk with God. As I was reading these devotions, it almost felt as if I were sitting in a small group and discussing the passages with the author.

In the prologue, the author says that 'You’ll find encouragement on every page of this book—encouragement to seek God above all else.' I’ve found that to be true. I’m looking forward to my devotional journey through the Bible as I use the reading plan and commentary in this book." —Patti Stephenson, She Lives to Read 

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