May 8: Acts 14:8-18
Key Verse: Acts 14:12
Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.
Devotion:
How many times have you been complimented this past week? How many of those times did you feel good? How many of those times did you take advantage of being complimented and ask for something in return? How far did you go? There is nothing quite like asking leading questions!
One of the unfortunate parts of being a good Christian is people will lift you up into positions you probably do not deserve and sometimes should not be tempted by; but it happens! We all do like to be complimented because it does make us feel better about ourselves – much better than being berated for doing something wrong! But what we do with compliments and how we allow them to affect our lives is what counts more than the compliments.
Paul and Barnabas fled to the Lycaonian city of Lystra because they were being persecuted and plots were being made against them because they dared to preach the Gospel. When Paul healed a lame man the crowd lifted both Paul and Barnabas to positions of gods – they did not quite get the idea there is only one God because they had always called upon many gods in their lifestyles before this. The priests of these gods wanted to come and offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas because of this miracle!
Both Paul and Barnabas tried to quell the hysteria by pleading with the people to accept them as mere human beings like everyone else, but the people had other ideas. Sometimes it seems like it is easier to allow people to think more highly of you than to admit you are just like them but God wants us to show others we are as human as all people – but we do try to be different because we want to follow God’s will rather than the habits of everyone else. Draw the line and keep the line!
Points to Ponder:
Do you see yourself as better than others?
What are the wages of sin?
May 7: Genesis 8:1-19
Key Verse: Genesis 8:13
By the first day of the first month of Noah’s six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth. Noah then removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry.
Devotion:
I used to read through the story of Noah and the flood and wonder what happened to all the people who were consumed by the flood – I still wonder how this could have happened. But when we see the state of many countries who have rejected God, we see people being consumed by pride and greed. If we simply take the bible as a string of stories which are true, then we are going to miss the real message from God!
God has made sure we have these stories in the state they are so we will meditate on the stories and not just read them like we read a newspaper. God wants us to feel the stories and the emotions so we do not forget what He has done throughout our history.
How often do you think about how old Noah was when this was all happening? How often do you think of the after effects of the flood: the mud, destruction, humidity, and all the horrible things we don’t want to think of? God wants us to remember how bad things can get and how good things are when we live with Him in our lives. God wants us to see we can leave this all behind when we go to be with Him in Heaven!
God gave Noah a chance for a fresh start where he could leave the horrible things of the previous life behind and not have to put up with the pride and greed and other horrible things which were consuming everyone. But such a drastic change in circumstance does not come easy for a mere human! We need to walk with God and keep close to Him so we can survive in our new life!
Points to Ponder:
Do you find life difficult?
How close are you staying to God?
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?