Kei roto i a ia te ora (His life is in him)
by Mark Whitfield
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Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him (Acts 20:10b).
Read Acts 20:7–12
I often think of my father when I read about Eutychus. Dad was a hard-working farmer, and after a long week, sometimes he would nod off during the Sunday sermon. Eutychus, however, did rather more than fall asleep in church! As Paul preached late into the night, Eutychus fell from a window three storeys up and died.
Yet what Paul says afterwards is astonishing: ‘Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.’ In Māori, it’s expressed like this: ‘Kaua e mataku, kei roto i a ia te ora.’
Perhaps you need to hear those words today.
Maybe something in your life feels as though it has fallen a long way. A relationship may seem beyond repair. Someone you love may be struggling. A dream may have died. You may simply feel exhausted, discouraged or uncertain about what lies ahead.
In those moments, it is easy to look at what has happened and conclude that the story is over.
But God sees more than you can see.
Notice what Paul does. He goes down to where Eutychus has fallen. He doesn’t stand at a distance and call out words of encouragement. He comes alongside him and embraces him. In that simple action, we see something of God’s heart. When you are at your lowest, God does not remain at a safe distance. In Jesus, he comes down to you. He meets you in your weakness, your fear and your brokenness, and says, ‘Kaua e mataku. Do not be afraid.’
God is the God of life. And even when you cannot see how, God is still at work.
Eutychus was restored, and the people were ‘not a little comforted’.
So, take this promise with you today: ‘Kei roto i a ia te ora – his life is in him’. In Christ, your story is never simply defined by the place where you may have fallen.
Lord Jesus, meet me where I am today. When I am afraid or discouraged, remind me that you are the God of life. Help me trust that you are still at work, even when I cannot yet see what you are doing. Amen.
Pastor Mark is a Kiwi and loves being pastor of St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ōtautahi (Christchurch) on New Zealand’s South Island. He is bishop emeritus of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand (LCNZ), has served on the LCA Commission on Worship and represents the LCNZ on the Roman Catholic–Lutheran Dialogue Commission. He is married to Leanne and is dad to Chelsea (and Tim), Brittany and Charlotte. A musician (organist, pianist, singer and composer), Mark also enjoys gardening, making people laugh and following sport, especially cricket and rugby. And when the opportunity arises, he loves eating rollmops on fresh bread with his father-in-law, Kevin.
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