Acts: What Jesus Started
Prayer
Lord God. I am sometimes at a loss for words. I’m not sure how to pray for some difficult situations. But… I know you promise that you hear our prayers. So, I’m praying now. Amen
Monday – Matthew 14:1-12 John the Baptist Beheaded
The first New Testament martyr that we know of is John the Baptizer. He was killed by Herod the Tetrach in Matthew 14:1-12. Herod had imprisoned John because of John’s disapproval of the king’s divorce for the purpose of marrying his sister-in-law. At Herod’s drunken birthday party, he offered to his new step daughter a gift of anything she wanted. Herodius (the new wife of Herod), told the step daughter that she should ask for John the Baptist’s head on a platter. Herod beheaded John. How does a story like this make you feel? Would God allow this to happen to someone like John?
Tuesday – Acts 12:1-19 James is Executed and Peter Escapes
We do not frequently talk about this particular story in Sunday worship, yet it’s an important reminder that God does and frequently intervenes to our benefit. Have you ever experienced God in powerful ways that remind you of His power?
Wednesday – Proverbs 3:1-6
Putting our trust in God is sometime difficult if we’re still longing for a personal relationship with God, yet we know that God deeply desires to be in a relationship with us. How are you working to establish a relationship with God?
Thursday – Mark 14:66-72, Peter Disowns Jesus Three Times
God takes the man who publicly denied Jesus three times and uses him to point 3000 people to Jesus in his first sermon. Don’t you think he can use people like me and you?
Friday – Acts 22:2-5 Paul, Zealot for God
Clearly, Paul was a bad man for those who followed Jesus Christ and His believers. He showed a “Zeal” and willingness to use violence to defend the Torah. Although his passion was misplaced, we sometimes see people in the church work to defend things that are counter to Jesus’ teachings. How can we ensure that we’re following God’s “true” teachings?
Saturday – Joshua 1:9-10
The book of Joshua begins with the death of Moses. The man used by God to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian captivity and to the promised land has now died. The Israelites have not yet possessed the land that the Lord had given them. But now Moses is dead and a new leader must emerge. That new leader is Joshua. The first chapter of the Book of Joshua is the Lord’s charge to Israel’s new leader, Joshua. Three times in the first nine verses Joshua is commanded to “be strong and courageous”. When you hear/see something multiple times in scripture, we’re likely to take notice and follow. So… “be strong and courageous.” God is with you!