Tag Archives: Paul

Power and influence (Galations 2:6-10), November 5, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Galatians 2:6-10

Set – Job 28; Galatians 2

Go! – Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2

Galatians 2:6-10
⁶ It makes no difference to me (or to God for that matter) if people have power or influence. God doesn’t choose favorites among His children. Even the so-called pillars of the church didn’t contribute anything new to my understanding of the good news. ⁷ But it quickly became obvious to them what God was doing: He had entrusted me to carry the good news to the uncircumcised, just as Peter was called to preach to those who were circumcised. ⁸ God was at work in the ministry of Peter, as emissary to the Jews, and was also moving and working with me in my ministry to the outsider nations.
⁹ When James, Cephas (whom you know as Peter), and John—three men purported to be pillars among the Jewish believers—saw that God’s favor was upon me to fulfill this calling, they welcomed and endorsed both Barnabas and me. They agreed that our ministries would work as two hands, theirs advancing the mission of God among the Jews and ours toward the outsider nations, all with the same message of redemption. ¹⁰ In parting, they requested we always remember to care for the poor among us, which was something I was eager to do.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Do you remember the first thing Paul said in these verses today? “It makes no difference to Me if people have power or inflence.” What you consider earthly power means nothing to Me. Suppose you are the leader of a group of people, what does that mean? They follow only as long as they desire to follow you. Can you really make them do what they do not want to do? No. You might impose some kind of consequence if they do not act as you wish, but they still do not have to follow.

If enough people choose not to follow, they can revolt against whatever power you think you have and overthrow you with pretty significant consequences. Take a look at what has happened to dictators and tyrant in the past. At some point, kingdoms have fallen and all they thought was theirs disappeared. Power, even over an individual, can be very fleeting.

And no matter how much power you think you exert, take a look at My power and compare it. Can you create a hurricane? Can you cause lightning to flash from the sky? Can you unleash the torrents of floods from the sky? Can you cause the rains to stop and bring devasting drought to the land? Can you shake the earth and cause man’s most sturdy structures to crumble? Can you unleash the power of the volcano and pour out molten rock across the landscape changing the shape of the mountains?

No matter how powerful you think you are, you’re best is nothing. Consider the power of the sun. I made it and all the other stars in the sky. They shine and give their light at My command. They move across the sky in perfect order because I spoke them into place and gave them the precision no person could give them. I set in place the perfect balance of warmth, water, predators, and prey so that you could exist on the tiny planet you call home, only one of billions of planets within My universe.

Only now are you beginning to understand the vast reaches of the universe I created with it billions of stars in billions of galaxies across what seems like the limitless expanse of space. But I know its limits because I created it. I spoke the words that began time and space long ago and I will one day bring and end to it with a command to My Son to go and get His bride, the church, those of you who believe in Him for salvation.

Does your power and influence in this place matter to Me? Not in the least! But My power in you can make all the difference in the world for you. I can help you make it through any circumstance. I can give you joy and peace in any situation. I can transform you into the person I created you to be. My power and influence in your life can demonstrate to others that I am still alive and well on planet earth, doing My will among those who continue to serve Me.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Life demonstrates your words (Acts 28:17-31), October 27, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 28:17-31

Set – Psalms 114; Acts 28

Go! – Job 18; Psalms 114; Acts 27-28

Acts 28:17-31
¹⁷ Three days after his arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders.
Paul: Brothers, although I committed no wrong against our Jewish people or our ancestral customs, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. ¹⁸ The Romans examined me and wanted to set me free because I had committed no capital offense. ¹⁹ But my Jewish opponents objected, so I had to appeal to the emperor—even though I had no charges against me and had filed no charges against my nation. ²⁰ I wanted to gather you together and explain all this to you. I want you to understand that it is because of Israel’s hope that I am bound with this chain.
Jewish Leaders:²¹ We haven’t received letters from Judea about you, and no visiting brother has reported anything or said anything negative about you. ²² So we are interested in hearing your viewpoint on the sect you represent. The only thing we know about it is that people everywhere speak against it.
²³ They scheduled a day to meet again, and a large number came to his lodging. From morning until evening, he explained his message to them—giving his account of the kingdom of God, trying to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets’ writings. ²⁴ Some were convinced, but others refused to believe.
Paul (adding as they left in disagreement): ²⁵ The Holy Spirit rightly spoke to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,
²⁶ Go to this people and say,
“You certainly do hear, but you will never understand;
you certainly do see, but you will never have insight.
²⁷ Make their hearts hard,
their ears deaf, and their eyes blind.
Otherwise, they would look and see,
listen and hear,
understand and repent,
and be healed.”
²⁸ So let it be known to you that God’s liberation, God’s healing, has been sent to the outsiders, and they will listen.
²⁹ Then the local Jewish leaders left Paul to discuss all he had told them.
³⁰ For two full years, he lived there in Rome, paying all his own expenses, receiving all who came to him. ³¹ With great confidence and with no hindrance, he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the ultimate authority—the Lord Jesus, God’s Anointed, the Liberating King.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

The wheels of man’s justice systems ran slow in Rome just as they do now. Paul sat in prison for two years before his case was finally heard and charges against him were dismissed. Yes, he was on house arrest, but that doesn’t mean he had freedom. He still had guards outside his door. He wasn’t free to move about the city or attend the synagogue or do the things he would like to do. His movements were restricted by the court and soldiers ensured he didn’t violate the terms of his arrest.

Paul didn’t let his time go to waste, though. During his days he preached to the guard. Many turned their lives over to Christ. Many learned about Paul’s faith because of their duty to guard him. They couldn’t make him stop talking about his God. They couldn’t leave … and so they listened. And many were convinced.

What was the difference between his brother Jews who went away unbelieving and those Roman soldiers who became part of the church in Rome? The Jews started with closed hearts and ears. They didn’t want to believe anything other than what they heard from their rabbis. Perhaps the Roman guards didn’t want to hear anything different either. But the Jews heard Paul’s words and left unbelieving.

The Roman guards heard, maybe unbelieving at first, but they had to stick around and not only listen, but they watched Paul’s life day after day. And that’s the difference. Every day the guards saw the difference Christ made in Paul’s life that they didn’t see in the lives of any of the other religions around them. The pantheon of gods they worships didn’t transform their lives. The Jews and their traditions didn’t make a difference in the lives of those around them. They just lived by rules. But Paul… He and those like him bowed to Christ were different and their lives showed. The guards wanted what Paul had and listened to learn how to get it.

Do you spend enough time with Me to let Me transform you? Do you spend enough time with those you want to hear the good news to let them see the transformation in your life and see that My message isn’t just words but has life transforming power? It takes both to be effective. Paul let his life show that My message is true. You can do the same.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Wrongs don’t make right (Acts 23:12-35), October 25, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 23:12-35

Set – Job 15; Acts 23

Go! – Job 15; Acts 21-23

Acts 23:12-35
^12-13 That morning a group of more than 40 Jewish opponents conspired to kill Paul. They bound themselves by an oath that they wouldn’t eat or drink until he was dead. ¹⁴ They told the chief priests and elders about their plan.
Jewish Opponents: We’ve made an oath not to eat or drink until this man is dead. ¹⁵ So you and the council must ask the commandant to bring Paul to meet with you. Tell him that you want to further investigate Paul’s case. We’ll get rid of the troublemaker on his way here.
¹⁶ Now Paul had a nephew who heard about the planned ambush; he managed to gain entry into the barracks and alerted Paul. ¹⁷ Paul called one of the officers.
Paul: Take this young man to the commandant. He has news the commandant needs to hear.
¹⁸ The officer took him to the commandant.
Officer: The prisoner named Paul asked me to bring this man to you. He has some kind of information.
¹⁹ The commandant led him away so they could speak in private.
Commandant: What do you want to tell me?
Young Man: ²⁰ The Jewish council is going to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow under the pretext that there will be a thorough examination. ²¹ But don’t agree to do it, because 40 assassins have bound themselves to an oath not to eat or drink until they’ve killed Paul. Their plan is in motion, and they’re simply waiting for you to play your part.
²² The commandant sent the young man home with these instructions: “Don’t tell a soul that you’ve spoken with me.” ²³ Then he called for two officers.
Commandant: At nine o’clock tonight, you will leave for Caesarea with 200 soldiers, 70 horsemen, and 200 spearmen. ²⁴ Have a mount for Paul to ride, and conduct him safely to Felix the governor.
²⁵ He wrote the following letter:
²⁶ Commandant Claudius Lysias greets his excellency, Felix, Governor. ²⁷ The accompanying prisoner was seized by Jews who were about to kill him. I learned he was a Roman citizen and intervened with the guard here to protect him. ²⁸ I arranged for a hearing before their council ²⁹ and learned that he was accused for reasons relating to their religious law, but that he has done nothing deserving imprisonment or execution. ³⁰ I was informed that a group was planning to assassinate him, so I sent him to you immediately. I will require his accusers to present their complaint before you.
³¹ So the soldiers followed their orders and safely conducted Paul as far as Antipatris that night. ^32-33 The next day, the horsemen conducted him on to Caesarea as the foot soldiers returned to the barracks. The horsemen delivered the letter and the prisoner to Felix who read the letter. ³⁴ The only question Felix asked concerned the province of Paul’s birth. When he learned Paul was from Cilicia, ³⁵ he said,
Felix: As soon as your accusers arrive I will hear your case.
He placed Paul under guard within Herod’s headquarters.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Sometimes the harshest criticism can come from within the religious sectors of society. People thinking they are acting in the name of their god do the cruelest things to other human beings. Paul experienced it with the Jews who thought he preached blasphemies against their traditions. It’s interesting they forgot their own laws to try to stop him. They plotted Paul’s murder to stop him from talking about a Man who loved others.

Number six on My list of ten commandments given to Moses, the first commandment dealing with relationships outside your relationship with Me and your parents. You would think they could remember that little detail in their dealing with Paul, but these forty men, not just one, but forty, took an oath to kill Paul before before they would eat or drink again. They wanted to get Paul out of the way and would do anything to do it. Even break My most sacred laws, My ten commandments, to do so.

I often wonder how people can make the leap from religious piety to murder or breaking My other laws with abandon they way they do, but it happens more often than I’d like to remember. And it wasn’t just with those leaders of the Temple and synagogues of the first century. It happens in churches all over the world. People have their pet projects or pet doctrines that someone questions or disrupts and suddenly they will do anything to stop the stray voice. Anything! And they will do these things in My name. What irony.

My warning to you, be careful in your conduct. Watch for false prophets, but let Me take care of them. You are not responsible for their punishment or even their banishment from the world. You don’t need to listen to them or let them enter your fellowship, but murder? Hardly. Love is the answer. Grace and mercy are far more effective instruments than those used by people outside My grace and love.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

What are your priorities? (Acts 20:13-38), October 24, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 20:13-38

Set – Job 13; Acts 20

Go! – Job 12-14; Acts 19-20

Acts 20:13-38
¹³ Again Paul wanted us to split up. He wanted to go by land by himself while we went by ship to Assos. ¹⁴ There he came on board with us, and we sailed on to Mitylene. ¹⁵ From there we sailed near Chios, passing by it the next day, docking briefly at Samos the day after that, then arriving at Miletus the following day. ¹⁶ This route kept us safely out of Ephesus and didn’t require Paul to spend any time at all in Asia, since he wanted to arrive in Jerusalem quickly—before Pentecost, he hoped.
¹⁷ In Miletus he sent word to the church in Ephesus, asking the elders to come down to meet with him. ¹⁸ When they arrived, he talked with them.
Paul: We will have many memories of our time together in Ephesus; but of all the memories, most of all I want you to remember my way of life. From the first day I arrived in Asia, ¹⁹ I served the Lord with humility and tears, patiently enduring the many trials that came my way through the plots of my Jewish opponents. ²⁰ I did everything I could to help you; I held nothing back. I taught you publicly, and I taught you in your homes. ²¹ I told everyone the same message—Jews and Greeks alike—that we must turn toward God and have faith in our Lord Jesus the Anointed. ²² Now I feel that the Holy Spirit has taken me captive. I am being led to Jerusalem. My future is uncertain, ²³ but I know—the Holy Spirit has told me—that everywhere I go from now on, I will find imprisonment and persecution waiting for me. ²⁴ But that’s OK. That’s no tragedy for me because I don’t cling to my life for my own sake. The only value I place on my life is that I may finish my race, that I may fulfill the ministry that Jesus our King has given me, that I may gladly tell the good news of God’s grace. ²⁵ I now realize that this is our last good-bye. You have been like family in all my travels to proclaim the kingdom of God, but after today none of you will see my face again. ²⁶ So I want to make this clear: I am not responsible for your destiny from this point on ²⁷ because I have not held back from telling you the purpose of God in all its dimensions.
²⁸ Here are my instructions: diligently guard yourselves, and diligently guard the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has given you oversight. Shepherd the church of God, this precious church which He made His own through the blood of His own Son. ²⁹ I know that after I’ve gone, dangerous wolves will sneak in among you, savaging the flock. ³⁰ Some of you here today will begin twisting the truth, enticing disciples to go your way, to follow you. ³¹ You must be on guard, and you must remember my way of life among you. For three years, I have kept on, persistently warning everyone, day and night, with tears.
³² So now I put you in God’s hands. I entrust you to the message of God’s grace, a message that has the power to build you up and to give you rich heritage among all who are set apart for God’s holy purposes. ³³ Remember my example: I never once coveted a single coin of silver or gold. I never looked twice at someone’s fine clothing. ³⁴ No, you know this: I worked with my own two hands making tents, and I paid my own expenses and my companions’ expenses as well. ³⁵ This is my last gift to you, this example of a way of life: a life of hard work, a life of helping the weak, a life that echoes every day those words of Jesus our King, who said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
³⁶ Once again, imagine this scene:
As Paul finishes speaking, he kneels down; and we all join him, kneeling. He prays, and we all join him, praying. ³⁷ There’s the sound of weeping, and then more weeping, and then more still. One by one, we embrace Paul and kiss him, ³⁸ our sadness multiplied because of his words about this being our last good-bye. We walk with him to the ship, and he sets sail.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Some would buckle under the strain of knowing they were saying their last goodbyes to friends as they departed. Paul, however, knew his mission wasn’t over. He knew from Me, he still had a message to give to the leaders in Rome. He knew the way to Rome was through Jerusalem and he didn’t hesitate to accept the mission. Paul knew the riches I would give him for following My plan far outweighed the minor suffering he endured for Me that he didn’t even think about whether or not he would go. He just set his eyes toward Jerusalem and Rome.

Are you that sure of My plan for your life? Do you trust Me that much? You can. You can find the faith Paul had in Me if you’ll spend the kind of time Paul spent with Me. You might complain you don’t have the time. Neither did Paul. He had no fast food restaurants to feed him. He had no service organizations to help him. In his day, everyone worked from sunrise to sunset six days a week to survive. Paul was no exception. Then he spent his nights either preaching My message or in prayer. It’s a matter of priority. You do what you want to do with the same 24 hours a day that Paul had. So do you want to know Me? Spend time with me.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Find a friend (Acts 18:1-17), October 23, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 18:1-17

Set – Job 11; Acts 18

Go! – Job 11; Acts 17-18

Acts 18:1-17
¹ From Athens, Paul traveled to Corinth alone. ² He found a Jewish man there named Aquila, originally from Pontus. Aquila and his wife Priscilla had recently come to Corinth from Italy because Claudius had banished all Jews from Rome. Paul visited them in their home ³ and discovered they shared the same trade of tent making. He then became their long-term guest and joined them in their tentmaking business. ⁴ Each Sabbath he would engage both Jews and Greeks in debate in the synagogue in an attempt to persuade them of his message. ⁵ Eventually Silas and Timothy left Macedonia and joined him in Corinth. They found him fully occupied by proclaiming the message, testifying to the Jewish people that Jesus was God’s Anointed, the Liberating King. ⁶ Eventually, though, some of them stopped listening and began insulting him. He shook the dust off his garments in protest.
Paul: OK. I’ve done all I can for you. You are responsible for your own destiny before God. From now on, I will bring the good news to the outsiders!
⁷ He walked out of the synagogue and went next door to the home of an outsider, Titius Justus, who worshiped God. ⁸ Paul formed a gathering of believers there that included Crispus (the synagogue leader) and his whole household and many other Corinthians who heard Paul, believed, and were ceremonially washed through baptism. ⁹ One night Paul had a vision in which he heard the Lord’s voice.
The Lord: Do not be afraid, Paul. Speak! Don’t be silent! 10 I am with you, and no one will lay a finger on you to harm you. I have many in this city who are already My people.
¹¹ After such turmoil in previous cities, these words encouraged Paul to extend his stay in Corinth, teaching the message of God among them for a year and six months.
¹² During this time, some Jews organized an attack on Paul and made formal charges against him to Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia.
Jews: ¹³ This man is convincing people to worship God in ways that contradict our Hebrew Scriptures.
Paul was about to speak, but Gallio spoke first.
Gallio: ¹⁴ Look, if this were some serious crime, I would accept your complaint as a legitimate legal case, ¹⁵ but this is just more of your typical Jewish squabbling about trivialities in your sacred literature. I have no interest in getting dragged into this kind of thing.
¹⁶ So he threw out their case and drove them away from his bench. ¹⁷ They were furious and seized Sosthenes, the synagogue official; then they beat him in front of the tribunal. Gallio just ignored them.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I want you to see something special about Paul’s discovery when he visited Corinth. He went to the city alone and began looking for people. The two special people he found were Aquila and Priscilla. Their names will come up again in many of his letters to the churches he founded throughout Asia Minor.

Now here’s what I want you to note about the relationship that grew between Paul and his new friends. Paul was looking for companionship in Corinth. He had been beaten, jailed, stoned, given up for dead, abused in many ways for preaching the good news about Me in the cities he visited along his journey. He just wanted to find a friend.

Note that Aquila and Priscilla were in the same business as Paul’s family. They were tentmakers. Paul came alone to the city and needed to find a quick way to find a friend, make some money for food and lodging or find someone who would provide it. So it was natural for him to go to a tentmaker to see if they could use another hand. They soon became fast friends and accepted Paul’s message of Me with enthusiasm.

Not only did they accept My message, but they took Paul in, became the foundation for the first church in Corinth, gave Paul housing and food so he could concentrate on preaching the message I sent him to preach, encouraged him in his mission journeys, and so much more. They also discipled new Christians in their growing church and gave generously to the Jews going through trials in Jerusalem. Aquila and Priscilla are benchmarks of what Christian laypersons should be in My church.

What about you? Do you look for people in your community with common interests to join them in friendship so you can share the message with them? Do you find common ground so those that need to hear My message will accept it from a friend? Do you recognize that you must first be a friend before you can really be My messenger?

Take after Paul and find a friend to share My message. You’ll be amazed at what I can do in their life and yours.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Who gets the credit? (Acts 14:8-28), October 21, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 14: 8-28

Set – Job 8; Acts 14

Go! – Job 8; Acts 13-14

Acts 14: 8-28
⁸ In Lystra they met a man who had been crippled since birth; his feet were completely useless. ⁹ He listened to Paul speak, and Paul could see in this man’s face that he had faith to be healed.
Paul (shouting): ¹⁰ Stand up on your own two feet, man!
The man jumped up and walked! ¹¹ When the crowds saw this, they started shouting in Lycaonian.
Crowd: The gods have come down to us! They’ve come in human form!
¹² They decided that Barnabas was Zeus and Paul was Hermes (since he was the main speaker). ¹³ Before they knew it, the priest of Zeus, whose temple was prominent in that city, came to the city gates with oxen and garlands of flowers so the Lycaonians could offer sacrifices in worship to Paul and Barnabas! ¹⁴ When they heard of this, Paul and Barnabas were beside themselves with frustration—they ripped their tunics as an expression of disapproval and rushed out into the crowd.
Paul and Barnabas (shouting): ¹⁵ Friends! No! No! Don’t do this! We’re just humans like all of you! We’re not here to be worshiped! We’re here to bring you good news—good news that you should turn from these worthless forms of worship and instead serve the living God, the God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that they contain. ¹⁶ Through all previous generations, God has allowed all the nations to follow their own customs and religions, ¹⁷ but even then God revealed Himself by doing good to you—giving you rain for your crops and fruitful harvests season after season, filling your stomachs with food and your hearts with joy.
¹⁸ In spite of these words, they were barely able to keep the crowds from making sacrifices to them.
¹⁹ Then unbelieving Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and incited the crowds against the Lord’s emissaries. The crowds turned on Paul, stoned him, dragged him out of the city, and left him there, thinking he was dead. ²⁰ As the disciples gathered around him, he suddenly rose to his feet and returned to the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. ²¹ After they proclaimed the good news there and taught many disciples, they returned to some of the cities they had recently visited—Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch in Pisidia. ²² In each place, they brought strength to the disciples, encouraging them to remain true to the faith.
Paul and Barnabas: We must go through many persecutions as we enter the kingdom of God.
²³ In each church, they would appoint leaders, pray and fast together, and entrust them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.
²⁴ They then passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. ²⁵ They preached their message in Perga and then went to the port of Attalia. ²⁶ There they set sail for Antioch, where they were first entrusted to the grace of God for the mission they had now completed. ²⁷ They called the church together when they arrived and reported all God had done with and through them, how God had welcomed outsiders through the doorway of faith. ²⁸ They stayed with the disciples in Antioch for quite a while.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Today’s story brings up a couple of questions I want to ask you. What do you do when you see something out of the ordinary happen? Who gets the credit? Do you give it to Me or the people involved? Do you praise Me for the healing that happens around you or does the credit go to the doctors and nurses? Yes, I gave them the knowledge and skills to apply the right treatments, but without the miracle of the human body in the first place, you would never find healing. I put all those things in place. I want you to give thanks to the people who aided and cared for you. They were My instruments, but I also want you to remember I had a part in your healing.

Sometimes I work instantaneously and still I don’t get credit for the work I do. Instead, some of the people standing around are seen as extra special or as those in Lystra saw them, as gods of a sort. I assure you, they are not gods. I use individuals, but without Me, they can do nothing. So be sure to give credit where credit is due.

The other question I have for you today is what do you do with those who are My instruments in working miracles? Do you treat them like the unbelieving Jews treated Paul and try to kill them either with stones or with words? Do you disregard the work I do through some of those that call on Me and lay hands on some for healing and I actually heal? I know some charlatans exist just making money on the emotions of crowds, but there are also those I use as instruments of healing and sometimes the healing is instantaneous because I want to show My power to a disbelieving world. What do you do with those?

Be careful to give Me credit when credit is due. And be careful how you treat those that work miracles in My name. You don’t need to worry about those that dupe the ignorant. I will take care of them in due time. Just keep praying. Keep believing. Keep living for Me. You’ll know the phonies when you see them if you spend time with Me, the real thing.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

What are you teaching? (Titus 2), June 30, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Titus 2
Set – Psalms 104; Titus 2
Go! – Amos 7–9; Psalms 104; Titus 2

Titus 2
¹ As to you, Titus: talk to them; give them a good, healthy diet of solid teaching so they will know the right way to live.
² Here’s what I want you to teach the older men: enjoy everything in moderation, respect yourselves and others, be sensible, and dedicate yourselves to living an unbroken faith demonstrated by your love and perseverance.
³ And here’s what I want you to teach the older women: Be respectful. Steer clear of gossip or drinking too much so that you can teach what is good ⁴ to young women. Be a positive example, showing them what it is to love their husbands and children, and teaching them to ⁵ control themselves in every way and to be pure. Train them to manage the household, to be kind, and to be submissive to their husbands, all of which honor the word of God.
⁶ Encourage the young men in the same way: in every situation, they should learn to control themselves.
^7-8 Titus, you have to set a good example for everyone. Go out of your way to do what is right, speak the truth with the weight and authority that come from an honest and pure life. No one can argue with that. Then your enemies will cower in shame because they have nothing bad to say against us.
⁹ Advise all the servants: Work hard for your masters, and be loyal to them. Strive to please. Don’t be rude or sarcastic. ¹⁰ Don’t steal or embezzle your masters’ property. Show them you are trustworthy, and all the credit will go to the teaching of God our Savior.
¹¹ We have cause to celebrate because the grace of God has appeared, offering the gift of salvation to all people. ¹² Grace arrives with its own instruction: run away from anything that leads us away from God; abandon the lusts and passions of this world; live life now in this age with awareness and self-control, doing the right thing and keeping yourselves holy. ¹³ Watch for His return; expect the blessed hope we all will share when our great God and Savior, Jesus the Anointed, appears again. ¹⁴ He gave His body for our sakes and will not only break us free from the chains of wickedness, but He will also prepare a community uncorrupted by the world that He would call His own—people who are passionate about doing the right thing.
¹⁵ So, Titus, tell them all these things. Encourage and teach them with all authority—and rebuke them with the same. You are a man called to serve, so don’t let anyone belittle you.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Have you ever thought about what you should share with those around you? Too often you just assume your children and those around you at work, church or your neighbors will just pick up your habits and learn what you want them to learn. Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way. You need to be a little more deliberate in your approach to teaching what you want those you care for to learn.

If you look at the advertising around you, you’ll find the world is pretty good at teaching impressionable young minds what it wants to teach. For instance, regardless of the known dangers of tobacco use, teenagers and young adults continue to pick up the habit and tobacco products still rake in almost half a trillion dollars in sales each year.

You see the tobacco advertisers teach children it’s cool to smoke or dip, and they teach them well. They are deliberate in the way they distribute their information and hide the truth about the damage that comes from their products. And so young people decide the teaching by the cancer societies won’t happen to them. The sales of products climb. And profits continue to grow.

The same can be said of alcohol, drugs, both legal and illegal, many of the foods you eat that you know don’t provide good nutritious value for you. But the teach of the advertisers help you decide the diseases won’t happen to you and so you partake. Adam and Eve did the same thing in the Garden of Eden with Satan’s advertisements about the forbidden fruit. Then it was too late for them.

So what do you want your children to learn? If you teach a Sunday School class, what do you want your students to learn? What do you want your neighbors to understand about you or about Me? What lessons do you want your co-workers to learn about spiritual things?

Remember, My command to you was to go and make disciples … in all the world. To meet the requirement I gave you requires deliberate action on your part. Perhaps it’s time to sit down and decide what you want others to see in you that you want them to know and learn. What habits do you have that you want your children and grandchildren to adopt? What do you want them to see and do? Can you respond like Paul, “Whatever you have seen me say or do, you do the same and you’ll find Christ.”?

Only deliberate action will overcome the plan Satan has in place to deceive those around you he wants to snatch from My kingdom. And perhaps only you can reach some of those with whom you interact each day. So what will you show them? What will you share with them? What will you teach them so they will know Me?

Paul gave Titus some clear instructions that I want to make sure you know fit you as well. “Talk to them; give them a good, healthy diet of solid teaching so they will know the right way to live.” Do this and you will fulfill My desire for you to make disciples in the world where you live.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Real joy in life (2 Timothy 4), June 28, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 2 Timothy 4
Set – Psalms 80; 2 Timothy 4
Go! – Amos 1–3; Psalms 80; 2 Timothy 4

2 Timothy 4
¹And now I bring you this charge before God and Jesus the Anointed, the one destined to judge the living and the dead, at His glorious appearance and His kingdom: ² go out and preach the word! Go whether it’s an opportune time or not! Reprove, warn, and encourage; but do so with all the patience and instruction needed to fulfill your calling ³ because a time will come when some will no longer tolerate sound teaching. Instead, they will live by their own desires; they’ll scratch their itching ears by surrounding themselves with teachers who approve of their lifestyles and tell them what they want to hear. ⁴ They will turn away from the real truth you have to offer because they prefer the sound of fables and myths. ⁵ But you must stay focused and be alert at all times. Tolerate suffering. Accomplish the good work of an evangelist, and complete the ministry to which you have been called.

⁶ For I am already being poured out, and the last drops of this drink offering are all that remain; it’s almost time for me to leave. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have stayed on course and finished the race, and through it all, I have kept believing. ⁸ I look forward to what’s in store for me: a crown of righteousness that the Lord—the always right and just judge—will give me that day (but it is not only for me, but for all those who love and long for His appearing).
⁹ Come to me, Timothy, as soon as you can. ¹⁰ You see, Demas has fallen for this world, abandoned me, and headed off to Thessalonica. Crescens took off for Galatia. Titus has gone to Dalmatia. ¹¹ Luke is the only one left. Bring Mark with you because he is useful in this work and will help look after me. ¹² I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. ¹³ On your way here, pick up the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, and bring the scrolls—especially the parchments.
¹⁴ Keep your eye out for Alexander the coppersmith! He came against me with all sorts of evil—may the Lord pay him back accordingly— ¹⁵ so watch your back because he has gone overboard to oppose our message.
¹⁶ When it was time for my first defense, no one showed up to support me. Everyone abandoned me (may it not be held against them) ¹⁷ except the Lord. He stood by me, strengthened me, and backed the truth I proclaimed with power so it may be heard by all the non-Jews. He rescued me, pried open the lion’s jaw, and snatched me from its teeth. ¹⁸ And I know the Lord will continue to rescue me from every trip, trap, snare, and pitfall of evil and carry me safely to His heavenly kingdom. May He be glorified throughout eternity. Amen.
¹⁹ Give my regards to Prisca, Aquila, and everyone over at Onesiphorus’s house. ²⁰ Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus in Miletus because he was sick. ²¹ Try your best to come before winter blows in. Eubulus says hello and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters. ²² May the Lord be with your spirit, and may His grace be with you. [Amen.]

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

You can hear in Paul’s words at the end of his letter to Timothy that he knows his time is short. Soon he will hear the call from the executioner and will leave this life and join Me in eternity. He knows I will not save him from the executioners tools, it’s just a question of how he will die. He doesn’t know if his death will be quick and painless or a slow tortuous death on a cross.

Even knowing his death is coming soon, Paul’s words are not mournful. He leaves words of greeting to his friends and words of encouragement to Timothy. He wants his books, the scrolls and parchments that contain the scriptures so he can read them again and learn more from them. And even as he hears the executioner’s footsteps, he knows that I am able to deliver him if I choose.

I will soon let Paul die as a martyr, but not quite yet. Timothy’s letter will not be his last, but almost. Very soon Paul will suffer his “thorn in the flesh” no more. Soon he will join Me for eternity and will have preached his last sermon, written his last letter, counselled his last teacher. After all is said and done, Paul will continue to pronounce, “I have run a good race, I have fought a good fight, I have won the crown that awaits me.”

I encourage you to listen to Paul’s words carefully in his last paragraphs to Timothy. They are full of encouragement. Charged with a desire to go on. Yet they also show Paul knows his destiny and he accepts it willingly as a faithful servant. He is not discouraged. He is not complaining. He doesn’t sorrow. In fact, you’ll recall in other letters, he questions which is better to remain or to die and be with Me? He was torn between the two. Paul found contentment in whatever circumstance he found himself because I was always with him.

I will always be with you, too. Find contentment in Me and you will have real joy in living each moment whatever your circumstance.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Paul describes today (2 Timothy 3), June 27, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 2 Timothy 3
Set – 2 Chronicles 25; 2 Timothy 3
Go! – 2 Kings 13–14; 2 Chronicles 25; 2 Timothy 3

2 Timothy 3
¹And know this: in the last days, times will be hard. ² You see, the world will be filled with narcissistic, money-grubbing, pretentious, arrogant, and abusive people. They will rebel against their parents and will be ungrateful, unholy, ³ uncaring, coldhearted, accusing, without restraint, savage, and haters of anything good. ⁴ Expect them to be treacherous, reckless, swollen with self-importance, and given to loving pleasure more than they love God. ⁵ Even though they may look or act like godly people, they’re not. They deny His power. I tell you: Stay away from the likes of these. ⁶ They’re snakes slithering into the houses of vulnerable women, women gaudy with sin, to seduce them. These reptiles can capture them because these women are weak and easily swayed by their desires. ⁷ They seem always to be learning, but they never seem to gain the full measure of the truth. ⁸ And, just as Jannes and Jambres rose up against Moses, these ungodly people defy the truth. Their minds are corrupt, and their faith is absolutely worthless. ⁹ But they won’t get too far because their stupidity will be noticed by everyone, just as it was with Jannes and Jambres.

¹⁰ You have been a good student. You have closely observed how I have lived. You’ve followed my instructions, my habits, my purpose, my faith, my patience. You’ve watched how I love and have seen how I endure. You have been with me ¹¹ through persecutions and sufferings—remember what they did to me in Antioch? In Iconium and Lystra? I endured all of it, and the Lord rescued me from it all! ¹² Anyone wishing to live a godly life in Jesus the Anointed will be hunted down and persecuted. ¹³ But as for the wicked and the imposters, they will keep leading and following each other further and further away from the truth. ¹⁴ So surely you ought to stick to what you know is certain. All you have learned comes from people you know and trust ¹⁵ because since childhood you have known the holy Scriptures, which enable you to be wise and lead to salvation through faith in Jesus the Anointed. ¹⁶ All of Scripture is God-breathed; in its inspired voice, we hear useful teaching, rebuke, correction, instruction, and training for a life that is right ¹⁷ so that God’s people may be up to the task ahead and have all they need to accomplish every good work.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

You live in treacherous times. Paul talks about them when he tells Timothy about the last days. Listen again to his description of people in the last days. “…the world will be filled with narcissistic, money-grubbing, pretentious, arrogant, and abusive people. They will rebel against their parents and will be ungrateful, unholy, uncaring, coldhearted, accusing, without restraint, savage, and haters of anything good. Expect them to be treacherous, reckless, swollen with self-importance, and given to loving pleasure more than they love God. Even though they may look or act like godly people, they’re not. They deny His power.”

Does any of that sound familiar? Look around you and you will find the world filled with such people. Your news depicts only evil, never the good that happens around you because as a people you have become haters of anything good. You crave evil. Your movies and television shows are filled with violence, sex, and the ocult because you crave evil and hate anything good. You rebel against your parents and have become exactly the people Paul says you would become. You seek your own pleasure at any cost.

Look into the your political campaigns over the last few years and the number of discoveries on both sides of the aisle of treachery in the voting booths. The dead voting. Stolen identification cards. Non-citizens lining up at the polls. People voting at multiple sites. Treachery because some have become swollen with self-importance and are reckless with the truth. Even the Supreme Court thinks it can decide if My word is right or wrong.

You are in perilous times. But I would instruct you as Paul instructed Timothy. Find truly godly men and women who follow My teachings. Watch their lives and know they know Me. Listen to them and do what they do. But more importantly, read My words. Hear My voice. Do what I ask of you. Don’t let anyone tell you My word has become obsolete. Those who think so, find themselves crushed by it.

Paul understood the importance of My word when he told Timothy, “All of Scripture is God-breathed; in its inspired voice, we hear useful teaching, rebuke, correction, instruction, and training for a life that is right so that God’s people may be up to the task ahead and have all they need to accomplish every good work.”

Some of what you read you won’t like. Some of it will make you change your ways and cause you to do tough things, but you’ll find it worth it in the end. You’ll discover, as Paul did, My word stands the test of time and will take you through the most difficult parts of life. And regardless what the world might think or do, what’s ultimately important is having Me say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joys of heaven.”

Will you be described by Paul’s description of the populace of the endtimes or by My welcoming words of grace? It’s your choice to make. Make the right one.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

God, always the same (2 Timothy 2:1-13), June 26, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 2 Timothy 2:1–13
Set – Jonah 2–3; 2 Timothy 2
Go! – Jonah 1–4; 2 Timothy 2

2 Timothy 2:1-13
¹ But as for you, my child, be empowered by the grace that is in Jesus, the Anointed One. ² Whatever you heard me teach before an audience of witnesses, I want you to pass along to trustworthy people who have the ability to teach others too. ³ As a good soldier of Jesus the Anointed, be ready to suffer with me. ⁴ Remember that soldiers on active duty don’t get wrapped up in civilian matters because they want to satisfy those who recruited them. ⁵ Look at it another way: if someone competes as an athlete, he won’t win the race and be crowned with the wreath if he breaks the rules. ⁶ And the farmer who exhausts himself in the field should be the first to taste his harvest. ⁷ Think about what I am telling you, and let the Lord give you clarity on all of it.

⁸ Remember Jesus the Anointed, raised from the dead, descended from David’s royal line. This is the crux of my good news! ⁹ This is why I suffer and why I am bound and chained like a lawbreaker. But God’s word is not in chains! ¹⁰ That’s why I endure everything for the sake of God’s chosen: so that they might experience salvation with lasting, eternal glory through Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King. ¹¹ Here’s a statement you can trust:
If we died with Him,
we will live with Him.
¹² If we remain with Him,
we will reign alongside Him.
If we deny Him,
we will be denied by Him.
¹³ If we are unfaithful,
He remains faithful,
For He is not able to deny Himself.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Not only are My words not in chains, they cannot not be put in chains. Nothing can contain My word. Satan has tried to stop the spread of My good news from the time I provided a means of salvation for Adam and Eve. But he has been unsuccessful in his attempts. Nothing can stop the My word from moving from person to person and around the globe.

Shortly after I ascended into heaven and left the work of the spread of the gospel to My apostles, people tried to stop them. The Temple tried, Rome tried, religious leaders, political leaders, everyone imaginable tried to stop people from sharing what I did for them. But nothing can stop the spread of My word. Nothing.

Paul recognized his imprisonment came as a direct result of his preaching the word I asked him to proclaim. But he couldn’t help but preach. The change I made in him on the road to Damascus was such a dramatic experience for him he couldn’t help but talk about it. Then, coupled with his knowledge of scripture from his studies with Gamaliel, Paul became a prolific writer and defender of the gospel for Me.

Paul discovered what I want each of My followers to discover. I want you to know I will remain faithful. I will stay with you through whatever circumstances. Paul found I was with him in good times and bad. I was with him in his prison cell and when he preached before new converts. I was with him with friends and with enemies. I am faithful.

Do you want to hear the best news? I’m the same God for you I was for Paul. I haven’t changed. Paul was just one of the many people through the centuries who chose to follow Me. With each person, I have been the same. I never fail. I’m always faithful. I’m always there. I’m always the same. Circumstances change. Names change. Methods of delivering My message might change. But I don’t change and My message hasn’t changed.

So trust Me to give you tasks you can do. Trust Me to stay with you through whatever life brings you. Trust Me to put you where you can best serve Me and bring glory to Me. I’ll be the same for you as I have been for all crowd of witnesses who have gone before you. I’ll be your God.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.