22 Sunday Apr 2012
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Chapter 8 speaks about God’s majesty and greatness. One of the notes in my Bible shares a powerful thought about our humility in light of God’s greatness; humility means proper respect for God, not self-deprication. God doesn’t want us to belittle our selves, He wants us to compare ourselves to His greatness and realize we come from Him.
21 Saturday Apr 2012
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There were a couple of things that stood out to me in today’s reading. The first was in Saul’s conversion when The Lord speaks to Ananias and says, 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” It is very clear that Jesus is fully responsible for Paul’s conversion, but what I found interesting is that even though Paul is completely turned around, he is still going to suffer according to these verses (we see this throughout the rest of Paul’s life) Let none of us ever think that a life of following Jesus is going to be like a bed of roses, in reality, it is more like a bed of rose bushes. There is certainly beauty in it and a sense of pure joy as we cultivate our walk with Him, but there is also suffering to be felt in order to attain it. The older I get, the more I realize that pain is a part of living a fulfilled life. The U.S. Marine Corps has an amazing saying, “Pain is just weakness leaving the body” For us it can be said, Suffering is just obedience entering our souls.
The second thing that stood out to me today was Peter’s raising Tabitha from the dead in verse 40, Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. Yes, this is the same Peter who denied Jesus three times. God can use any of us for great things if we just allow Him to use us. No matter how bad We have made mistakes, Jesus’ mercy and grace is much more powerful than our sin. Jesus conquered sin once and for all and our past or present sins do not limit His ability to use us.
20 Friday Apr 2012
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I’ve read the story of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch many times before, but one of the notes in my Bible brought up a really good point. The Ethiopian is an important official; it says he is charge of Candace, queen of Ethiopia. Because he is an important official, this is the beginning of the witness “to the ends of the earth” that Jesus talked about in Acts 1:8. He is one of the first people to take the message of the Gospel beyond the middle eastern region and into Africa. Pretty cool!
19 Thursday Apr 2012
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This is one of the most powerful stories our faith. Stephen, a man with a serving heart and bold spirit, was not afraid to speak the truth. Even to the point where is cost him his life, he was willing to speak the truth. The thing I love the most about Stephen is that he was the perfect reflection of Christ. I hope that I can somehow do the same no matter what the circumstance.
18 Wednesday Apr 2012
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I don’t know about the rest of you, but truthfully, I don’t mind being in a good fight. Not that I going around looking to start one, but I certainly don’t back down easily especially when there is something at stake. In chapter 6 we are introduced to Stephen who is brought to serve and take of widows. He is obviously a servant who is ordained into a position where he can use his gifts, however, as we will see tomorrow, Stephen is no pushover. He is not someone who will back down from a fight and is willing to speak his mind and stand up for what he believes while keeping himself pure. We can learn a lot from Stephen (Ok, ok, I can learn a lot from Stephen). Stay tuned for tomorrow’s reading to see just how bold and spirit-filled Stephen can be.
17 Tuesday Apr 2012
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I have a very simple thought today (well, at least more than usual) about Ananias and Sapphira. Their sin was not about stinginess or holding back what is already God’s. It was their choice whether they should give the money to God, but they chose to lie about it. We do the exact same thing when we make ourselves look greater than we are by giving a little and acting as though we’ve given half our possessions. When I give my tithe it may seem like a big number, but the reality is it is only 10% of a very large number. God is not impressed with the actual number, He is impressed with the obedience; let’s not forget that!
16 Monday Apr 2012
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Verse 11 is interesting, He is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ The notes in my Bible says that the capstone unites the two sides of an arch and holds it together. Peter is talking about how the Jews had rejected Jesus, thus making Him the capstone that united us all in the church. Without Jesus there would be no church because it would not be able to stand on its own without everything He did to fulfill His purpose here on earth.
15 Sunday Apr 2012
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It is sometimes easy to take God’s provision and act as if we had done it ourselves. When Peter and John took part in the healing of the crippled beggar, they were very clear as to where the power of healing had come from; verse 6, Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Even after the fact, when they were in the temple, Peter and John made it clear that the power was not their own but from the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”. They wanted to make sure everyone was clear who the glory belonged to. This is the perfect example of how we should be about everything we have and do. Without the power and blessings of God we can do nothing. It is by His grace and mercy that we are blessed.
14 Saturday Apr 2012
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So we finally reach Pentecost and who is there to explain it all? That’s right, Peter, the same guy who denied Jesus three times when Jesus was being persecuted, tried, and found punishable by crucifixion. God’s grace is amazing! Reading verses 40-41 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Even with all the baggage Peter carried God allowed him to deliver the word that brought 3,000 people to the saving knowledge of grace. No matter what you or I have done wrong in our lives, God has given us the ability to not only be saved, but also to be used to have great impact on His kingdom!
13 Friday Apr 2012
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We are finally in Acts; the foundational actions of the apostles that formed our faith. Everything that the Christian “church” would become has it’s origins here. The key verse in this first chapter is found in verse 8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After Jesus is taken up into heaven, the baptism of the Holy Spirit would bring the helper and leader they all needed. As for me, I don’t know what I would do if it weren’t for the Holy Spirit. I know with the Holy Spirit I have all I need to guide me, love me, and provide for me in everything I do.
Daily Devotion 