Devotionals

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: How Do I Receive Him?

Digging for Truth: Just as Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit, our faith will be led into places where we must press in for more in our relationship with God. In these times, we are learning how to trust in God’s promise to provide. Repentance that leads to forgiveness is the way of salvation the Lord offers; but there is an additional flow of blessing that comes as we follow Jesus—our Example. Jesus offers humble followers God’s power, through the Helper, to be victorious even in the midst of life’s greatest challenges; power for the present and the future. Having a form of godliness might be achieve in the flesh. However, receiving the power of God, through the Helper, leads to transformation and personal testimony; a whole new way of knowing God and experiencing his anointing to do what we cannot (2 Tim 3:5).

Grace for the Heart: In our passage today, we take a moment to reflect on the loving leadership of John the Baptizer—the prophet God used to bring a spiritual shift in the work and will of God to redeem creation. In the Old Testament, God accepted a blood sacrifice and obedience to the commands, because it revealed what was necessary to reconnect with God. Yet, no one could honor or please God by trying to fulfill the love commands through human effort; only the Son of God emulated sinless love. John called people to repentance and ritual baptism, but he clearly told those receiving this cleansing it was now time to follow Christ, because he would bring the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Mat 3:11). Jesus himself proclaimed John as a great man, but only the Anointed One has the authority to extend the Helper to his faithful followers.

Acts 19:3 NLT 3 “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.”

Challenge: When Christ’s Spirit lives in us, we know him as a Person. We hear his Voice, we know divine direction, we love deeply and compassionately so we can be a helping hand to others, we testify about Christ, and lastly, we pray in agreement with God through the Spirit. By faith, we must ask Jesus to fill us with the Helper—God’s Spirit and Person of promise (Luke 11:13).

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the ongoing work of repentance and forgiveness that leads us into life with your Promise—the Helper. We asked you to fill us with the Holy Spirit to overflowing. Cleanse us, Lord. We desire to know you, follow you, love you, love and serve others as we testify to your life in us, and we want to pray in agreement with the Spirit to see your Kingdom power released in the wilderness of this sinful world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper
Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: Why Do I Need the Helper?

Digging for Truth: We do not know a great deal about Jesus during his childhood or his experiences prior to asking John to baptize him. Joseph raised Jesus and he was a carpenter; so, Jesus likely worked as an apprentice with him. But, when Jesus was baptized by John his work changed. Scripture teaches the Holy Spirit made his home in the heart of Christ’s bodily temple; this is called the anointing. From then on, Jesus—-the Anointed One—was focused on sharing the gospel message of salvation to the empty and broken souls around him. The Helper empowered everything Jesus was sent to do; so, Jesus was quick to instruct his disciples not to try to live or teach the gospel in their own strength. This is also our lesson to learn.

Grace for the Heart: In our passage for today, the apostles are instructed to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit who will help them be effective witnesses of everything they have seen and learned from Jesus. I am so grateful the Helper gives us the ability to witness to the Truth as we communicate with the people around us. All God’s children need the Helper, because we are called to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and to the Holy Spirit, teaching the Word of God, and to be witnesses of this Good News with our lives (Mat 28:19-20). Submission to the ways of Christ will bring peace with God. Broken and lost souls await the Good News we are sent to share and the Helper opens the door and brings the anointing!

Acts 1:3-11 NLT 3 During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.

4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with [in] water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

The Ascension of Jesus
6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Challenge: I pray for Christ’s followers across the globe to ask the Helper for opportunities to witness the Truth of salvation in Christ. Not only does the Good News bring a relationship with God, it is a whole new and righteous pathway for living. People do not need to remain wounded, broken, and empty in their souls, because the Holy Spirit is the Healer we carry. The Helper will open doors, bring opportunities, and help us become witnesses of this River of Life found only in Christ. God promised, “I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19).

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making the Helper available so we can effectively tell people you are alive and you love them. We can passionately tell others about your goodness and the salvation you offer. Please create a hunger and thirst for righteousness within us and prompt us to ask the Helper to make us witnesses everywhere we go. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Today’s Reflection: Who is the Helper?

Digging for Truth: The Helper is the Holy Spirit—the third person of the Godhead. As a person, he has a godly mind with wisdom and knowledge, enjoys a personality with godly emotions, and always works for the will of Almighty God. This amazing person is on a quest to form God-glorifying relationships; therefore, he speaks, prays, teaches, works miracles, commands, forbids, and lastly can be resisted (John 14:26; Acts 1:16, 2:4, 7:51, 8:29, 39, 11:12, 13:2, 16:6,739: Romans 8:26, 27).

Grace for the Heart: I am so grateful to have the Holy Spirit serving as the Overseer of the Body of Christ, because he helps us use the spiritual gifts he imparts to Christ’s followers in order to exalt Christ as Lord. The Spirit always wants to glorify Jesus the Christ, so he reminds us of the Truth—Jesus is the Son of God and the Living Word. The Spirit illuminates the work of Christ to bring salvation and then lifts us from dead thinking, living, and works of the flesh. The Helper knows we were taken from the dust of the earth; however, “To all who mourn in Zion, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory (Isaiah 61:3). We can have no better Friend than the Helper!

John 14:16-17 NLT Jesus said, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,[Comforter, Encourager, Counselor] who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”

Challenge: I pray for every heart to know the Helper. He is always willing to answer our cries for help and lead us toward the Truth. “I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” (Isaiah 65:24 NLT).

Prayer: Lord, we need the Helper, because he is the Gift you have provided so we can know the reality of your heart. On this Ash Wednesday, we confess our need for you in every area of our lives. Please fill us and make yourself known to us today. We confess our sin and ask for you to forgive us, Lord. Help us to approach today differently. Help us to spend time in prayer, because we want to enjoy your presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Whether we profess faith in Christ or not, facing the truth about ourselves can be very difficult and uncomfortable. Typically, people want to avoid any form of discomfort and facing the truth about our fallen nature can be painful. Certainly, we can run away from the truth, blame others for our pain and demand our own way, or we can deny the truth all together and live a fantasy. God made us with the freedom of choice: the ability to live righteously [based on the Truth] or the ability to live foolishly [based on lies]. Building on the foundation of Truth will always produce a better life. Yet, with so many opposing choices, it is a temptation to try to live somewhere in the middle.

The middle grounds may seem like a safe position, but that is a fallacy. God calls every human being to choose whom he or she will serve; there is no third choice. We have been given freedom; however, if we want to make godly progress in life we must understand some things we think, act upon, or strive for are not the best for our lives, because Truth is a person and aligning with His character and nature must be the Christian’s goal.

As human beings, we have no hope of becoming godly—pleasing to God—in our own strength; but, because of Jesus and His righteousness and power, we can learn and grow in godliness as we are willing to face the Truth. This means we must place our faith in Christ to lead us in every choice we make, because each decision can bring a stronger connection to live in God’s power or each decision can bring a disconnect with God’s power. I believe if we are not making righteous choices to live in the power of the Spirit who brings revelation and helps us to face the Truth, we are making unrighteous choices that will ultimately lead to our destruction [Satan’s plan].

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul writes his letter to Timothy and the universal Church in order to encourage them to face the Truths of the Christian faith—godliness. We are human beings whose nature it is to self-serve and preserve, so we will allow our fallen nature to rule us unless the Spirit of Christ comes to live within us, convict us, and work to liberate us from sin. He alone can teach us how to live the Truth, because He is the Truth of godliness; He is the One who pleases Father God.
This is a beautiful picture of the love of God for His creation and family. You are so loved by Father God that He sent His Son to die for your sins, so His Spirit could teach you to live in the Truth. Please don’t try to live in the middle ground, because it will cost you fellowship with Christ, as well as the blessings of living in the Truth. What an awesome God!

1 Timothy 3:14-16 NLT The Truths of Our Faith
14 I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, 15 so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.
16 Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith [godliness]:
Christ was revealed in a human body
    and vindicated by the Spirit.
He was seen by angels
    and announced to the nations.
He was believed in throughout the world
    and taken to heaven in glory.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for all the ways you love us. Please bring your children into a humble place each day, so we can bow to the Truth as you reveal it. Nothing is better than living for you; no difficulty in life is more painful than living separated from you. Thank you for your mercy, grace, and faith to make righteous choices today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today’s passage aligns with Pastor Mary’s sermon from yesterday about “LISTENING” to God. The writer of Hebrews is speaking to believers, and the message is meant to be an encouragement so that we cling to Christ, especially during difficult times. But you and I cannot miss it, this message is meant to be spread to non-believers. Each one of us are a container of the Holy Spirit and we are called to spread Christ’s message of love. Think about it, if you and I spend more time in God’s Word, allowing Him to “preach and teach” us, as we really “listen” to His voice, then our souls (our minds, wills, and emotions) will begin to align with Him and shift away from this world. We will not feel the need to be pushy in the way that we “preach and teach” others. No, if we are really listening to God voice, and allowing Him to operate in our lives, we should exude Christ and His message of pure love in all that we do and speak. If that’s happening, it’s a very practical ways for non-believers to witness the love of Christ and to want more of Him and His love in their own lives.

Hebrews 2:1-4 (NLT)
A Warning against Drifting Away

1 So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. 2 For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. 3 So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? 4 And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for speaking clearly into my life. Please forgive me for quieting Your voice with my own soul’s earthly desires. Help me, Holy Spirit, to be One with You and the plan that You have for my life so that I may reflect Your love for others. I want hearts to want You, Jesus, and I am grateful that You allow me to be a part of that process for the good of Your Kingdom. I ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: Do you ever feel timid about sharing the gospel message—God’s love given through the Christ—with others? Remember, we share the gospel through our witness in word and action. If you feel timid at times, you can relate to Timothy a young believer who was like a son to Paul. Even though Paul had a rather intense personality, young Timothy was actually reserved, as well as hesitant to take on the important responsibilities of caring for God’s people.

Timothy may have felt inadequate to lead others, but Paul understood what Christ had done in his own life, so he was able to see the potential in Timothy. Being around Paul may have been incredibly uncomfortable at times, but God connects us with one another to help us grow in faith and develop in the Truth of God’s merciful love. So, in teaching Timothy, Paul instructs all of us about the mercy of God to bring us a “new life” in Christ.

In our passage today, Paul humbly lays out his past in order to witness to Timothy and the Church—Body of Christ—about the merciful love of God he received but did not deserve due to his actions. Paul describes himself as the worst of “sinners” who essentially made God practice patience! Quite frankly, we all fit into that category of sinners with whom God has been patient.

So, never diminish yourself because of your sinful past. Instead, give your past to Jesus and choose to live in the “new life” of grace God has provided. We have not been saved by grace through faith, so we can continue to test the patience of God. We have been given a new way to live in Christ that lifts us out of dead living and into eternal life. Let’s keep our focus on living with our faith fixed on Jesus and where He wants to lead us now. Blessings for your weekend!

1 Timothy 1:12-20 NLT Paul’s Gratitude for God’s Mercy
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, 13 even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. 14 Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the humble candor of the Apostle Paul. He does not try to take any credit for being an effective minister of the gospel. He does not try to diminish those who are different in personality. Instead, Paul gives You all the credit and reveals the mercy we have all been given because of Christ. This has been such a great reminder today for our souls, Lord, and the unfathomable patience You extend to all of us who reach for You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: For Christmas, a dear friend gave me an essential oil defuser. When heated, the oils release a delicate and pleasant fragrance that fills the room. When I walk into the house, a beautiful fragrance is there to greet me. It makes me breathe deeply and smile.

Scripture teaches when the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached or lived out in human lives, it releases a beautiful fragrance. Honestly, not everyone likes the odor that follows the gospel; in fact, some find the truth repulsive. But, for believers, the gospel is the life-giving fragrance of our Savior and we find it so sweet!

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul reminds Christ’s followers they are servants who are to spread the fragrance of Christ everywhere they go. Like incense or oils, we leave a fragrance behind with our lives. That fragrance should be pleasant as it lingers; it should encourage people to join as we follow the Source. Christ has made us all ministers of the gospel message, so may we release a beautiful fragrance by how we live, because this allows Christ to draw others to himself.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17 NLT Ministers of the New Covenant
14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?

17 You see, we are not like the many hucksters [like merchants] who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the power of the gospel message. When people allow the truth to live in their hearts, they produce the fragrance of life. If people refuse the truth, Christ’s fragrance reminds them of death and they are repulsed. Please keep us mindful of this, but help us choose to proclaim your message and be the fragrance of life, anyway. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: In our psalter passage today, this patriot laments over his country’s sorrows and the people’s miseries as exiles; a people overwhelmed with trouble. The psalmist has faith in God and he looks for the resurrection and restoration of the nation even as he walks through the remaining ruins of Jerusalem/Zion. From the writings of this psalmist, we can gain a better perspective of the calamity that comes for the nations that dishonor God and rebels against His Word.

Even today, if the nations would just turn to God, call on the name of the Lord, and cry out for freedom and deliverance from evil, the divine deeds of grace would pardon national sin and help humanity to become the children of Light who magnify the Lord! May we pay attention to the history of Israel and realize the cost of rebellion against God. May we pray for Jesus to be exalted as the righteous Ruler of human hearts, because the problem is not politics, it is sin against God.

Psalm 102:12-20 NLT
12
But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever.
    Your fame will endure to every generation.
13 
You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem [Zion]—
    and now is the time to pity her,
    now is the time you promised to help.
14 
For your people love every stone in her walls
    and cherish even the dust in her streets.
15 
Then the nations will tremble before the Lord.
    The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory.
16 
For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem.
    He will appear in his glory.
17 
He will listen to the prayers of the destitute.
    He will not reject their pleas.
18 
Let this be recorded for future generations,
    so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord.
19 
Tell them the Lord looked down
    from his heavenly sanctuary.
He looked down to earth from heaven
20 
    to hear the groans of the prisoners,
    to release those condemned to die.

Prayer: Lord, whether the nations of the world honor you or not, does not change your power or authority to govern your creation. However, we pray for humble hearts to turn toward you, because each individual and every generation is a new creation with the potential to honor you. Holy Spirit, we pray for nations and leaders to tremble before Almighty God in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: We can all find ourselves in situations that push us to make an appeal and take a matter to a higher source of authority. Through that appeal process, we may pray to receive mercy and justice. Presently, I am making an appeal to the SSA, because of miscalculated earnings. In its present state, it is a very unfair situation. So, I am appealing it and praying for God to protect me and restore that which is rightfully mine. It has been under consideration for almost two months now so, I am still waiting in faith…
In our passage today, we are reunited with the Shunammite widow and her son. To refresh your memory, the prophet Elisha received hospitality from the Shunammite woman and her husband. They were godly people who wanted a son but could not have one, so God miraculously blessed them with a son. Later the son died; however, through the prayers and faith of the prophet Elisha, the son was resurrected back to life.

The woman, now a widow, already knew Elisha was a man of God, so when he encouraged her to leave Shunem because it would be experiencing a famine [due to the judgment of God], she and her son left home and moved to the land of the Philistines. At the end of seven years, the Shunammite widow returned to Israel but realized, by her choice to do what Elisha had instructed, she forfeited her claim to her ancestral lands. So, at God’s appointed time, she made an appeal to the new king and her land was restored to her [as well as all the proceeds from the land during her absence].

I cannot help but look at this Old Testament lesson through the eyes of the New Testament gospel. God has promised to restore to His people what the enemy has stolen and we see it coming true for this woman in our lesson. God is no respecter of persons, so he will do the same for you and me. Thank you, Jesus!

2 Kings 8:1-6 NLT The Woman from Shunem Returns Home
8 Elisha had told the woman whose son he had brought back to life, “Take your family and move to some other place, for the Lord has called for a famine on Israel that will last for seven years.” 2 So the woman did as the man of God instructed. She took her family and settled in the land of the Philistines for seven years.
3 After the famine ended she returned from the land of the Philistines, and she went to see the king about getting back her house and land. 4 As she came in, the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God. The king had just said, “Tell me some stories about the great things Elisha has done.” 5 And Gehazi was telling the king about the time Elisha had brought a boy back to life. At that very moment, the mother of the boy walked in to make her appeal to the king about her house and land.
“Look, my lord the king!” Gehazi exclaimed. “Here is the woman now, and this is her son—the very one Elisha brought back to life!”
6 “Is this true?” the king asked her. And she told him the story. So he directed one of his officials to see that everything she had lost was restored to her, including the value of any crops that had been harvested during her absence.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this lesson from the Shunammite woman. You provided for her needs in so many ways, because she was faithful and generous. You are faithful to do the same for each one of your children who live for your honor. Please be with us today and help us to come to you for protection, mercy, and justice. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

When I decided to welcome Jesus into my heart and began to walk in a faithful relationship with Him, I noticed there was a lot of talk about God’s grace. Initially my mind thought it meant that God was being courteous, maybe even polite, or it had something to do with His good manners, because that is what I knew about the “word” grace, from a dictionary standpoint – to be courteous, polite, or to have good manners. Honestly, it was confusing to me, and I kept wondering what exactly is God’s grace? Then I heard Pastor Mary use grace as an acronym: G.R.A.C.E = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. At the time, I thought maybe grace isn’t about God being “courteous, polite, or using good manners”, but rather He has something of great value for me and it is directly connected to Jesus dying on the cross. As I continued to grow in my faith walk (connecting more in relationship with Jesus) I kept learning from Pastor Mary, many other Christians, and most importantly more and more from God, Himself, by spending time with Him in His Word. I started to realize when I welcomed Jesus into my heart, I was saved (my salvation came) by God’s grace through the sacrifice that Jesus made by dying on the cross so that my sins could be forgiven. I am no different from any other person, none of us deserve God’s grace (it is His favor, His forgiveness of our sins, and His acceptance of us), and there was (and remains) absolutely nothing I could have done in my own strength or by my own means to have gained it, or to have earned it, and I certainly was not entitled to it.

I believe the Word of God, the Bible, God’s Testimony, the Good News, the Gospel Message of Christ…whatever you want to say because it is all One in the same, is a message of God’s grace. His grace is the most priceless gift you and I will ever receive, and it was made possible because Jesus gave His life for us, and by welcoming Him into our hearts, asking for His forgiveness of our sinful ways, we are humbling bowing before Almighty God and recognizing that we were and are lost without Him. We desperately need His grace to cover us as He bestows His favor, forgiveness, acceptance, and guidance to us, and that happens because we gave our lives (really “back”) to Him as our Creator, on the day we asked Jesus into our hearts.

In today passage, Paul and Barnabas were in Iconium (which is known today as Konya, located in Turkey), and they were preaching boldly the Good News about God’s grace (v. 3). We see that conflict and division arose, because God’s grace provoked, and continues to provoke, an extreme reaction in both directions. Those seeking God’s grace want more of His Truth operating in a through their lives, while those not seeking it struggle to accept it because the darkness of this world blinds them to His Truth. In the previous chapter, Luke reminds us of what God promised in the Old Testament was now fulfilled through the resurrection of Jesus (v. 33). Therefore, in Jesus there is forgiveness of sins (v. 38), and everyone who believes in Him is made right in God’s sight (covered by His grace) and that is not something the Law of Moses could have done (v. 39). So, this Good News of salvation by grace, not by the Law of Moses, was not received well, and continues to not be received well. Not only by non-Christians, but at times by Christians who believe their good works, entitlement, years of church deeds, etc. earn them some type of heavenly reward or grace-pass to the front of the line. Only God knows each one of our hearts and Jesus will one day judge each one of our heart’s motives alone. In the meantime, we need to pray for God’s grace to move within our lives the same way it moved in today’s passage for Paul and Barnabas. God grace carried them away from the mob, from being attached, and stoned to death. He moved them to other regions where they were to preach the Good News (v.7), just as you and I are called to do the same.

Acts 14:1-7 (NLT)

Paul and Barnabas in Iconium

1 The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. 2 Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. 3 But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders. 4 But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.

5 Then a mob of Gentiles and Jews, along with their leaders, decided to attack and stone them. 6 When the apostles learned of it, they fled to the region of Lycaonia—to the towns of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding area. 7 And there they preached the Good News.

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for laying Your life down so that my sins are forgiven. In my own strength I am weak and unworthy of Your favor, but in You, Jesus, I am made whole, forgiven, and worthy to accept Your most gracious gift of grace. Thank You, Father, for Your eternal love. Help me, Holy Spirit, to walk out a life that reflects Your love, to speak words that are guided by You, bathed in Your love, and filled with Your Truth. Please keep guiding my life and using me for the glory of Your Kingdom. In Jesus’s Name. Amen.