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Christian Devotional – April 25, 2016
Read Acts chapter 23 VERSE: Acts 23:31–The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” TRUTH: Paul was following God, but in the midst of the difficulties it can be easy to lose sight of that fact and feel discouraged and down. Jesus knew that and He came to Paul and let him know that he could be courageous and realize that God had a plan for all that He is going through and all that he has done. Paul could rest with a renewed hope that he was still exactly where…
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Christian Devotional – April 24, 2016
The Christian devotional for the day today. This online devotional and bible study tool for women and men discusses how to live a life that is blessed based on the Beatitudes. The Word in Matthew indicates that blessed are the humble because they shall inherit the earth. Humility is not the opposite of power, humility is simply the way in which people use power. People who are humble recognize that everything they have comes from God and God is the one who deserves the credit for everything in their life. As a result, people who are humble aren’t living their life constantly looking over their shoulders waiting for people to…
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Christian Devotional – April 23, 2016
Read Acts chapter 22 VERSE: Acts 22:21–“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'” TRUTH: Paul is giving a defense for himself and why he has been doing what he has been doing, traveling around all over and sharing about Jesus Christ. Things are going well and the people are listening to him, until he makes this statement. The Jewish people are very set that they are the chosen people of God and that God would never have an interest in anyone else. The very idea that God would send Paul to speak to the Gentiles is preposterous. The Lord will often…
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Christian Devotional – April 22, 2016
Read Acts chapter 21 VERSE: Acts 21:19–Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. TRUTH: Paul has come back to Jerusalem and is giving an account of all that has gone on while he has been away. This was his opportunity to brag and boast about all the miracles and conversions, but see how this is phrased. Paul shared what God had done Paul didn’t take this opportunity to brag and boast about his own situation and actions. Instead, he used the time to boast about the glory and greatness of God and all the mighty works of God that had…
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Christian Devotional – April 21, 2016
Read Acts chapter 20 VERSE: Acts 20:32–Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are satisfied. TRUTH: Paul was giving a farewell speech to several believers that he knew he wouldn’t see again. While he cared for them deeply and had been sharing Christ with them, he now knows that he must leave them over to God’s care. Paul has taught them all they need in order to be able to seek after God themselves, so he commits them to God and to His grace. When we are teaching and training…
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Christian Devotional – April 20, 2016
Read Acts chapter 19 VERSE: Acts 19:15–One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” TRUTH: Some men who were not believers were trying to do the same types of miracles that Paul was doing so they would simply use Paul’s name. This time, the Spirit recognized that they didn’t have the power of Christ in their life and that they had no authority. What would the evil spirit have said to us? Do we live out the power of Jesus Christ in our life or are we trying to make things happen on our own power? Do we try to…
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Christian Devotional – April 19, 2016
Read Acts chapter 18 VERSE: Acts 18:26–He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home an explained to him the way of God more adequately. TRUTH: Discipleship and mentorship are integral parts of the Christian life. As people come to know Jesus, they need to be trained and have someone to answer their questions and talk through their circumstances. Priscila and Aquila both recognized that Apollos was called by God to preach and share, but needed a teacher and mentor, so they stepped in and asked if they could help instruct Apollos. Who was the last person that you…
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Christian Devotional – April 18, 2016
Read Acts chapter 17 VERSE: Acts 17:25–And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. TRUTH: Paul was speaking to a group of Greeks who were very used to all the tales of Greek mythology with their pantheon of gods. In all of those stories, the gods are selfish, spiteful creatures who use and manipulate humans for their own pleasure. Paul is explaining that the God of the universe is nothing like that. God doesn’t need us for anything, however, He is constantly giving to us everything that we have. We don’t serve God because…
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Christian Devotional – April 17, 2016
As we continue our study on the Beatitudes to learn how to be Blessed, today we are looking at mourning: The Christian devotional for the day today. This online devotional and bible study tool for women and men discusses how to live Blessed as we live out the Beatitudes from Matthew 5. This week we’re looking at Blessed are those who mourn. When we think of mourning, we are discussing the feeling of one who has experience loss. The Jewish people have a lot of specifics surrounding how they mourn. For more information on Jewish mourning customs, check out this website: http://www.jewfaq.org/death.htm As we learned last week, step one is…
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Christian Devotional – April 16, 2016
Read Acts chapter 16 VERSE: Acts 16:9–During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” TRUTH: Paul was diligently seeking God’s will on where to go and with whom to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Because of his diligent seeking, God answered him and helped him see where his next step should be. God answers our prayers in many ways, but we must be patient in order to see what He directs. If we are not listening for Him or not seeking His will, we will miss out on the path that God is…