Tag Archives: witness

Do you know what He did? (Romans 10:5-21), May 29, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Romans 10:5-21
Set – Proverbs 12; Romans 10
Go! – Proverbs 10-12; Romans 10

Romans 10:5-21
5 Moses made this clear long ago when he wrote about what it takes to have a right relationship with God based on the law: “The person devoted to the law’s commands will live by them.” 6 But a right relationship based on faith sounds like this: “Do not say to yourselves, ‘Who will go up into heaven?’” (that is, to bring down the Anointed One), 7 “or, ‘Who will go down into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring the Anointed One up from the dead). 8 But what does it actually say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the good news we have been called to preach to you). 9 So if you believe deep in your heart that God raised Jesus from the pit of death and if you voice your allegiance by confessing the truth that “Jesus is Lord,” then you will be saved! 10 Belief begins in the heart and leads to a life that’s right with God; confession departs from our lips and brings eternal salvation. 11 Because what Isaiah said was true: “The one who trusts in Him will not be disgraced.” 12 Remember that the Lord draws no distinction between Jew and non-Jew—He is Lord over all things, and He pours out His treasures on all who invoke His name 13 because as Scripture says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How can people invoke His name when they do not believe? How can they believe in Him when they have not heard? How can they hear if there is no one proclaiming Him? 15 How can some give voice to the truth if they are not sent by God? As Isaiah said, “Ah, how beautiful the feet of those who declare the good news of victory, of peace and liberation.” 16 But some will hear the good news and refuse to submit to the truth they hear. Isaiah the prophet also says, “Lord, who would ever believe it? Who would possibly accept what we’ve been told?” 17 So faith proceeds from hearing, as we listen to the message about God’s Anointed.

18 But let me ask this: have my people ever heard? Indeed, they have:

Yet from here to the ends of the earth, their voice has gone out;
the whole world has heard what they have to say.
19 But again let me ask: did Israel perhaps hear and not understand all of this? Well, Moses was the first to say,

I will make you jealous with a people who are not a nation.
With a senseless people I will anger you.
20 Then Isaiah the fearless prophet says it this way:

I was found by people who did not seek Me;
I showed My face to those who never asked for Me.
21 And as to the fate of Israel, God says,

All day long I opened My hands
to a rebellious people, who constantly work against Me.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Do you know someone who needs Me in their life? Do you really believe Me when My words says that “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”? Now think of that someone again. Put that person’s face in your mind. Make his or her feature very clear for a moment. Do you want them to be eternally lost or do you want them to find Me?

I hope your immediate response was to find Me. To know Me as their personal Lord and Savior. If that wasn’t your immediate response, please find an altar for yourself quickly! My will, My desire is that all would come to know Me as Lord and Savior. Everyone. Everywhere. In every nation of the world. I don’t want to exclude anyone from My salvation. But each individual makes their own choice.

Now picture that person once more. Listen to Paul’s words again. “How can people invoke My name when they do not believe? How can they believe in Me when they have not heard? How can they hear if there is no one proclaiming Me? How can some give voice to the truth if they are not sent by Me?”

I’m giving you a mission. Proclaim Me to that person. You don’t need to preach. You don’t need to know the Five Spiritual Laws. You don’t need to memorize five books of the Bible before you talk to him or her. I just want you to tell them one thing you know I did for you this week. That’s it. Just in conversation, tell them, “You know what God did for me this week? He…”

Tell them that one thing I did for you. That’s not so hard to do. But it proclaims Me. It opens doors. It plants seeds. It begins to let you witness My hand on your life. It prompts them to let My Spirit work within them. It may begin the process of them letting Me become their Lord and Savior. Can you take that tiny little step to save that someone from eternal separation from Me? “How can they believe if no one tells them?” Can you be the one who tells them the good news about Me in your life? I can do the same for them. Be My instrument of life for someone you know and love.

You don’t even need to worry about whether they believe. Many that listened to Me didn’t believe. But they heard My words and made their choice. You are not responsible for their choice, but when I give you a mission, you are responsible for the mission. Who did I lay at your feet today? Maybe you should pick up the phone!

As Isaiah said, “Ah, how beautiful the feet of those who declare the good news of victory, of peace and liberation.” 

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.

Everyone is important to God (Romans 3:21-31), May 22, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Romans 3:21-31
Set – 1 Kings 8; Romans 3
Go! – 1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5; Psalms 99; Romans 3

Romans 3:21-31
21 But now for the good news: God’s restorative justice has entered the world, independent of the law. Both the law and the prophets told us this day would come. 22 This redeeming justice comes through the faithfulness of Jesus, the Anointed One, the Liberating King, who makes salvation a reality for all who believe—without the slightest partiality. 23 You see, all have sinned, and all their futile attempts to reach God in His glory fail. 24 Yet they are now saved and set right by His free gift of grace through the redemption available only in Jesus the Anointed. 25 When God set Him up to be the sacrifice—the seat of mercy where sins are atoned through faith—His blood became the demonstration of God’s own restorative justice. All of this confirms His faithfulness to the promise, for over the course of human history God patiently held back as He dealt with the sins being committed. 26 This expression of God’s restorative justice displays in the present that He is just and righteous and that He makes right those who trust and commit themselves to Jesus.

27 So is there any place left for boasting? No. It’s been shut out completely. And how? By what sort of law? The law of works perhaps? No! By the law of faith. 28 We hold that people are justified, that is, made right with God through faith, which has nothing to do with the deeds the law prescribes.

29 Is God the God of the Jews only? If He created all things, then doesn’t that make Him the God of all people? Jews and non-Jews, insiders and outsiders alike? Yes, He is also the God of all the outsiders. 30 So since God is one, there is one way for Jews and outsiders, circumcised and uncircumcised, to be right with Him. That is the way of faith. 31 So are we trying to use faith to abolish the law? Absolutely not! In fact, we now are free to uphold the law as God intended.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Some of the Jews of Paul’s day had trouble thinking I could care about the outsiders, the Gentiles, anyone other than the twelve tribes of Israel. Down the line from the time of Abraham, they forgot the mission I originally gave Abraham. In My covenant with him, I told him I would bless the nations through him. I meant for his children and his children’s children to minister to those around them. Not shut them out.

The Israelites were My chosen people for that purpose, to bless those around them. But they became arrogant and blind to the task I set out for them to accomplish. Instead of blessing the other nations of the world and sharing My love and My design for humankind, they hoarded the treasure I gave them. So Paul tries to remind them in these verses that I am the God of all creation. I am the God of all nations. I came to save all humankind from the penalty sin brings.

Some among them didn’t want to hear Paul’s words and caused dissension in the churches. Paul had to set it right. But the same thing happens today in My church. I see segregation among congregations. Many think I’m the God of the white, Anglo congregations alone. Did anyone tell them I came to earth as a dark-haired, olive-skinned, Middle-Eastern Jew? How did they get their warped idea?

I created all humankind, though. I am the God of everyone and everything. Whether they want to believe it or not doesn’t matter, it’s still true. Christians and Jews will sometimes acknowledge they serve the same God, but too often exclude everyone else from their thought process and dismiss the rest of the world as unworthy of Me. But stop and look around. Who created them. Who will save them if not Me? And who will introduce them to Me if not you? I am their God. But for many of them, I need an introduction. They haven’t heard My story. They haven’t seen the evidence of My Spirit truly alive and at work in men and women sold out to Me.

Much of the world hears the rhetoric of “Christians” who talk about Me but don’t live for Me. Like the Jews of Paul’s day, they shut everyone out except those that look like them, talk like them, and think like them. I created a colorful world, full of variety, including a variety of people. Just because you were born in a country where you heard the gospel early doesn’t mean you are special. It means you, like Abraham, have a mission to tell others about Me.

You would be surprised, if you checked, at the number of people in your neighborhood who do not know Me. I dare you to walk around the block and ask how many attend church regularly. Ask how many read the Bible more than twice a week if at all. Ask how many pray every day. Ask how many can tell you just five of the Ten Commandments. You see, you have a lot of work to do in sharing My story.

My laws live in you if you accepted My gift of salvation. So does My grace, My mercy, and My Spirit helps My fruit grow in you. Go spread some seeds and tell others what I’m doing in you. That’s all I ask of you as a witness. Tell your story of My life in you. If I’m living in you, it will make a difference to those around you, whatever their race, color, gender, nationality, religion, political persuasion. None of those things matter to Me. I created everyone. All of them are important to Me. Go tell them My story!

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 changes people (Galatians 1:11-24), Mar 10, 2015

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Today’s Podcast


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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Galatians 1:11-24
Set – Deuteronomy 14; Galatians 1
Go! – Deuteronomy 13-15; Galatians 1

Galatians 1:11-24
11 Know this, dear brothers and sisters: the good news I brought to you isn’t the latest in fiction or the product of some creative mind. 12 It is not a legend I learned or one that has been passed down from person to person, ear to ear. I was gifted with this message as Jesus the Anointed revealed Himself miraculously to me. 13 Surely you are familiar with my personal history, with my dedication to the teachings and traditions of Judaism. I persecuted the church of God—in fact, I meant to destroy it. 14 I excelled in the teachings of Judaism far above other Jewish leaders, and I was zealous to practice the ways of our ancestors. 15 But God—who set me apart even before birth and called me by His grace—chose, to His great delight, 16 to reveal His Son in me so I could tell His story among the outsider nations. I didn’t confer with anyone right away, 17 nor did I go to those who were already emissaries in Jerusalem. I went straight to Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

18 After living this adventurous mission for three years, I made my way to Jerusalem and spent 15 days with Cephas, whom you know as Peter. 19 But I didn’t see any emissary other than James, our Lord’s brother. 20 (You can be certain that what I am offering you is an authentic account. Before God, it’s the whole truth—I wouldn’t lie.) 21 Later I journeyed to Syria and Cilicia; 22 and since I had spent so little time in Judea among the churches of the Anointed One, no one there could pick me out of a crowd. 23 But stories of my call and mission preceded me: “The very man who wanted to kill us all is now preaching the faith he once labored to destroy.” 24 And so they praised God for the miracle He did in my life.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

The story of Paul’s conversion is well known. How I met him on his way to Damascus to persecute My followers there. How I blinded him and showed him what he was doing to My church and the people who knew the truth about Me. Paul changed in that encounter. There is something to remember in what happens after that first encounter, though, that many forget today.

The story Luke tells Theophilus jumps pretty quickly from the Damascus road experience to events with Peter and the other disciples. When he picks up the story of Paul again, it talks about Barnabas being sent from Jerusalem to Tarsus to find him. Then the two of them spent a year in Antioch before they embarked on their first missionary journey to establish churches across Asia Minor.

That time frame is important. Paul spent those three years in Arabia learning about Me. He poured over all the scriptures he learned during his tutelage under Gamaliel, one of the most renowned rabbis in Israel, to see how I fit the prophecies and discovered for himself that I was indeed the long awaited Messiah. He made sure his Damascus Road experience wasn’t just a dream, but that all I told him was true.

The next thing Paul began to do was discover My mission for him. He listened when I said I would have him telling others about Me, so he wanted to prepare himself well. Paul didn’t wait to talk about his experience or what I had done for him, but he also didn’t start his missionary journeys right away either. Paul wasn’t ready to take on the task of becoming the theologian for Me through his letters to the churches yet.

Paul needed to spend time with My word and absorb who I am and what I had done for him so he could adequately argue before the leaders of the synagogues and the temple. It didn’t stop him from witnessing of his experience during those three years. Many saw the change in him. But he needed preparation before he turned his attention to the pulpit to begin planting churches across the countryside.

There is the difference in many new Christians today. I want you to get up from the altar and tell others about what I have done for you. I want you to express the joy and freedom from the guilt of sin that you receive when you accept My gift of forgiveness and salvation. But I also want you to prepare diligently to share better to those you might meet who would try to dilute My word or twist it for their own pleasure.

Look at the history of the scriptures. It’s message hasn’t changed since Moses began sharing My laws with the Israelites 4,000 years ago. The message is still the same. The right and wrong of the commandments still hold true. Life and love and devotion to Me are still the hallmarks of the behavior I want you to internalize and display for everyone you meet. I will meet out justice when the time is right. You don’t need to worry about that. Instead, love others into My kingdom. That’s what I did when I walked the earth. That’s how others will know you are My followers, by your love for each other and for My creation at large. All of it. Love others into My kingdom.

That also doesn’t mean you agree or condone the behaviors of others. I detest evil more than you. I am holy. I always have been holy and always will be holy. I cannot bear evil in My presence. But I still love all of humankind I created. I still love the world and all that is in it. I don’t like what man has done to it, but I still love man. That’s why I died to save you. That’s why I made provision to pay the penalty for sin you could not pay.

Share your story immediately with all who will hear you. Learn My story. Read about it in My word. Study it with faithful followers. Prepare to incorporate it into your life in ever deeper realms until it engulfs every part of you. Then be prepared to share it with anyone and everyone who has ears to hear.

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.

Go tell someone what I’ve done (Mark 2:1-17), Feb 23, 2015

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Today’s Podcast


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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Mark 2:1-17
Set – Psalms 90; Mark 2
Go! – Numbers 12-13; Psalms 90; Mark 2

Mark 2:1-17
1-2 Some days later when Jesus came back to Capernaum, people heard that Jesus was back in town and many gathered at the house where He was staying. Soon the crowd overflowed from the house into the streets, and still more people pressed forward to hear Jesus teaching the message of God’s kingdom. 3 Four men tried to bring a crippled friend to Him; 4 but since the crowd prevented their carrying him close enough to get Jesus’ attention, they climbed up onto the roof, opened a hole in it, and lowered the paralyzed man on his mat down to Jesus.

5 Jesus recognized the faith of these men.

Jesus (to the paralyzed man): Son, your sins are forgiven.

6-7 Some scribes were sitting in the crowd, and they didn’t like what they were hearing.

Scribes (reasoning to themselves): What does this Jesus think He is doing? This kind of talk is blasphemy, an offense against the Most High! Only God can forgive sins.

8 At once Jesus realized what they were thinking. He turned to them.

Jesus: Why do My words trouble you so? 9 Think about this: is it easier to tell this paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to tell him, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk”? 10 Still, I want to show you that the Son of Man has been given the authority on earth to forgive sins. (to the paralytic) 11 Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.

12 The man rose to his feet, immediately rolled up his mat, and walked out into the streets. Everyone in the crowd was amazed. All they could do was shake their heads, thank God for this miracle, and say to each other, “We’ve never seen anything like that!”

13 Another time Jesus was out walking alongside the Sea of Galilee teaching the gathering crowd as He went. 14 He saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the booth where he collected taxes.

Jesus (calling out to him): Follow Me.

Levi left the booth and went along with Him.

15 At Levi’s house, many tax collectors and other sinners—Jews who did not keep the strict purity laws of the Jewish holy texts—were dining with Jesus and His disciples. Jesus had attracted such a large following that all kinds of people surrounded Him. 16 When the Pharisees’ scribes saw who shared the table with Jesus, they were quick to criticize:

Scribes (to His disciples): If your master is such a righteous person, then why does He eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners, the worst among us?

17 Jesus heard them.

Jesus (to the scribes): People who have their health don’t need to see a doctor. Only those who are sick do. I’m not here to call those already in good standing with God; I’m here to call sinners to turn back to Him.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

The scribes and Pharisees forgot the message I gave to Abraham centuries earlier when I first made My covenant with him. I promised him that all people would be blessed through him. The only way that can happen is for Abraham and his children to interact with the rest of the world. The Pharisees and Jewish leaders did like most of the churches today seem to do. You construct a beautiful building and fill it with exquisite furnishings. You fill some of the pews every week with a homogeneous crowd and sing the same choruses and listen to the pastor share a message. But then nothing happens outside the walls of the building.

My message certainly touches those inside those four walls, but as My Son told those complaining about His ministry, He came to call sinners to turn back to God. They will not be found in the churches. They will be found in the streets. So when will you witness to those outside the building? How will you show Christ to those you run across every day? How will you live like My Son so that others see a difference in you they want to emulate? What will you do today to make a positive difference for someone in your path expecting nothing in return?

For too long, the church has forgotten its mission of witnessing to those who need Me in their lives. The simple message of the gospel has remained within the walls of the cathedrals and the sanctuaries where the people who need to hear it feel barred from its sounds. So how will you reach out where you are? Whether from your church, you place of work, or your home to touch the lives of those around you so that others will find My blessings because of My Spirit working through you.

I haven’t changed My plan. I still intend to share My message through the witnessing of those saved by My grace. I depend on humankind to reach their fellow man. Will you stand boldly and do your part? All I ask is that you tell others what I do for you. That’s it. It’s that simple. Just acknowledge My working in your life. Witness My activity to others. 

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.

Tell it like it is (Acts 13:1-12), Feb 6, 2012

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Today’s Podcast


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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 13:1-12
Set – Leviticus 1; Acts 13
Go! – Leviticus 1-3; Acts 13

Acts 13:1-12
1The church in Antioch had grown strong, with many prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon (a dark man from Central Africa), Lucius (from Cyrene in North Africa), Manaen (a member of Herod’s governing council), and Saul. 2 Once they were engaged in a time of worship and fasting when the Holy Spirit spoke to them, “Commission Barnabas and Saul to a project I have called them to accomplish.” 3 They fasted and prayed some more, laid their hands on the two selected men, and sent them off on their new mission. 4 Having received special commissioning by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went to nearby Seleucia on the coast. Then they caught a ship to the island of Cyprus.

5 At the city of Salamis on the east side of Cyprus, they proclaimed the message of God in Jewish synagogues, assisted by John Mark. 6-7 They went westward from town to town, finally reaching Paphos on the western shore. There the proconsul named Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear their message. At his side was an occult spiritualist and Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus 8 or Elymas (which means “magician”). Elymas argued with Barnabas and Saul, trying to keep Sergius Paulus from coming to faith.

9 Saul, who is also known as Paul, was suddenly full of the Holy Spirit. He stared directly into Elymas’s face.

Paul: 10 You’re a son of the devil. You’re an enemy of justice, you’re full of lies, and you steal opportunities from others. Why do you insist on confusing and twisting the clear, straight paths of the Lord? 11 Hear this, Elymas: the Lord’s hand is against you, and you will be as blind as a bat for a period of time, beginning right now!

At that instant, it was as if a mist came over Elymas and then total darkness. He stumbled around, groping for a hand so he could be led back home. 12 When Sergius Paulus saw this happen, he came to faith and was attracted to and amazed by the teaching about the Lord.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Elymas is like so many I see today. He argued not just to keep Paul from talking to him about Me, but to keep him from talking to anyone else. Sometimes I just don’t understand the crowning glory of My own creation. I don’t understand why people want to hold others back from the truth. Maybe I can see that they will decide for themselves they want to play god with their life, but to try to impose that on others. I just don’t get it.

Elymas was and always would be no better than second fiddle to anyone that Rome sent to Salamis. He knew that. His trickery would allow him to stick around the court and entertain the proconsul and his guests for a while, but Elymas knew he had no real wisdom and no real answers for the proconsul. Why would he deny the truth to the man who could make a difference in the daily lives of others?

I’m appalled at how often it happens even today. Those who taunt their benevolence and goodwill, but then withhold My message of real hope and salvation are just like Elymas. I don’t understand them. They hold back the really good things in life for those in need. They present themselves as genuine and concerned and generous, but their true colors eventually come out as untrustworthy and greedy, focused on what is best only for them and not what is best for those they supposedly serve.

I’m so proud of what Paul did, though, through the prompting of My Spirit. Elymas didn’t stick around long after Paul pointed out who he really was and who he served. I think today your societal spirit of “tolerance”, that is tolerance for everything except Me, blinds the vulnerable to the truth. In that tolerant atmosphere, everyone fears identifying Satan for who he is and fails to warn others of the traps he sets around the weak. Paul put Elymas straight and warned Sergius Paulus, just like I hope you will do for My children.

As one saved from My greatest enemy, you have a responsibility to help your brothers and sisters. Fallen humanity needs people who will call out those putting others at risk by failing to let them hear My truth. It’s time to start letting My message be heard loud and strong above the clammer of lies that try to push it away.

Will you do your part? My Spirit will be there to give you strength, just like it was for Paul.

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.