May 6: Acts 13:44-52

Key Verse: Acts 13:50
But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.

Devotion:
One of the big problems we have in our society today is the fighting between different churches and different religions. This is one of the hardest things for me to accept in our communities and one which I am sure the Lord does not like either. If we are going to say we are Christians, then we should be able to act like Christians and get along.

Around this time the Jewish leaders were getting more and more upset by the fact people were meeting together outside of their religious circle. Up until this point they had a fairly good grasp on the people by imposing their rules, which were based on the laws of Moses, on them. What they were doing though was expanding on Moses’ laws with their own rules so they could remain in power. They were not going to accept the truth about Jesus because it would mean they would have to change!

So much of the fighting between religions is based on jealousy; one being jealous the other is getting more people through the door or have a bigger building. When those feelings start coming into the church, leaders may well seek to make their own rules in order to keep control of what they have.

When Jesus went around telling people about God, He did not impose any rules outside the Word of God. If people were doing their own thing instead of following the Word of God, He would tell them. If people were lost in their own ways of living, He would tell them. Some people listened and were able to change. Others rebelled and continued to work against God.

Points to Ponder:
Does your work support God or man?

Will you try to restrict your teaching to be within the bible?

May 5: Acts 13:26-33

Key Verse: Acts 13:33
he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: “You are my son; today I have become your father.”

Devotion:
As Paul continued to speak to them in Antioch, reminding them of their history and their scriptures, he now links them to what has happened to Jesus. Everything which they have written in their scriptures has come to pass without them realising it. This man Jesus who they had derided and crucified, had been raised up from the dead, witnessed by so many people as being alive again, had completed what God had the prophets write down in preparation for this.

Paul knew the scriptures because he had turned them against Christians before God confronted him. He was the one now standing up and telling people how true the scriptures were and how Jesus was the one who fulfilled them. How could this not be their Messiah! Paul had turned from being a persecutor to a witness.

When you go out into the world and see the things which people do against God, what do you do? As I see it, we have two choices. We can either ignore what our Bibles say and join in with the rest of the world doing whatever it is they are doing, or we can make a stand and we can be a witness for God.

We don’t have to be excellent public speakers. I can remember standing up in front of others for the first time in school and then in university and being terrified because I thought I did not know enough! It only takes a single piece of knowledge which you have and others don’t have to turn you into a teacher. If you are willing to trust God and allow Him to guide you in your words, then you will be like Paul and be able to tell them of your experiences – that is what being a witness is all about!

Points to Ponder:
Do you have a good relationship with God?

Have you told anyone about your relationship?

May 4: John 13:12-17

Key Verse: John 13:17
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Devotion:
One of the biggest problems we have in our societies is the class system we apply to life! We are always taught to try and reach higher in life and to become better; but many choices we make along the way to get better alienate us from others simply because we think we are somehow better than them. Yes we may well be better at doing our job, better at problem finding, better at communication or any other thing in life – but saying we are a better human being is not our choice to make!

God wants us to be able to talk to anyone from any walk in life. Jesus chose to meet with all manner of people during His ministry on earth. He chose to meet with people from all walks in life, all positions and all beliefs. He did not chose to only walk with those who believed in God, or followed the rules of the church, but everyone.

This display of washing of feet was to demonstrate to the disciples they should not place themselves above anyone just because of the position they hold in society or church. Every one of us is called a child of God – which means we need to treat each other as siblings and not as people from a different world!

It is sometimes hard to reach out to people whom you know are working against you and against God; but God is going to open doors for us to reach out to unexpected people in our lives so they too can have a different view of life than what they may be forced into enduring. The choices we make in our lives often govern what lifestyles are open to us which often exclude us from righteous connections and deeds. We need to be willing to be open to what God has in store instead of what we think we should have!

Points to Ponder:
Do you limit your social meetings to people you think are good?

Will you try listening to God?