WHAT WORK HAS JESUS ASSIGNED TO YOU? The apostle Paul reminded his friends from Ephesus of the calling he had on his life from Jesus. Even though he knew that suffering and jail awaited him, he was determined to fulfill his life purpose of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful grace. Protecting his… Read more »
One Year Bible Devotions
All One Year Bible devotions are based on the One Year Bible Online Reading Plan
“…A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored” (Acts 19:17 NLT).
PRAYING FOR REVIVAL IN OUR CITY The preaching of Paul and the apostles and the story of how demons acknowledged the name of Jesus and even of Paul, caused a “solemn fear” of God to come over the city of Ephesus and the “name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored.” A spiritual awakening took… Read more »
“The Lord frees the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down” (Psalm 146:7-8 NLT).
ONLY THE LORD CAN . . . Only the Lord can truly set free those who are enslaved by sin and their own addictions to their over-desires for more, even though more never satisfies. “The Lord frees the prisoners.” Only the Lord can truly open the eyes of the spiritually blind, who wonder aimlessly… Read more »
“When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” … but some joined him and became believers” (Acts 17:32, 34 NLT).
THREE RESPONSES TO THE GOSPEL The apostle Paul was called before the Areopagus, which was the high council of Athens, where they invited him to explain what he was teaching. For the Athenians were known for their interest in new philosophies, many of them spending much of their time discussing new ideas. They listened closely… Read more »
“Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you” (Psalm 143:2 NLT).
NO ONE IS INNOCENT BEFORE GOD David understood that he could not stand before the Lord as one accused. For he was a sinner, as are we all. So, he called on the Lord’s “unfailing love” (v.8) instead of His judgment. God’s “unfailing love” or “chesed” as it is in the Hebrew, is His covenantal… Read more »
“This is not right. This is a day of good news, and we aren’t sharing it with anyone! If we wait until morning, some calamity will certainly fall upon us. Come on, let’s go back and tell the people at the palace.” (2 Kings 7:9 NLT).
FOUR LEPERS SHARE THE GOOD NEWS When the armies of King Ben-Hadad of Aram besieged Samaria, the people of Israel were dying of starvation. Yet, the Lord revealed to His prophet Elisha that there would be plenty of food in the marketplace of Samaria within a day. That night the Lord caused the soldiers of… Read more »
“Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.” (Psalm 141:3 NLT).
TAMING THE TONGUE David understood something about the human tongue, no one can control it. We need help from the Lord to tame the tongue. So, David prayed that God would take control of his words and set a guard over his lips. The Spirit inspired James to write about the same topic saying,… Read more »
“Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too.” (Acts 14:27 NLT).
THE FIRST CHURCH MISSIONS REPORT Although the 72 disciples that Jesus sent out two-by-two were perhaps the first to offer a missions report, this report by Paul and Barnabas to the church at Antioch may have been the first to a church. While there was no mention of souvenirs brought back, nor a slide show… Read more »
“You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do” (Psalm 139:3 NLT).
ARE YOU GLAD FOR GOD’S ATTENTION? The psalmist David wrote of his wonder at God’s constant awareness and attention towards him. He considered it wonderful that God would be so attentive to him. Yet, not everyone wants God to see everywhere they go and know everything they do. They desire a secret life hidden… Read more »
“Everyone who believes in him is made right in God’s sight—something the law of Moses could never do.” (Acts 13:39 NLT).
HOW CAN WE BE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD? Paul and Barnabas preached justification by faith in Christ alone while visiting the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch, which was a prominent Roman city located in what is now SW Turkey. This was on Paul’s first missionary journey. They made it clear that what the law of Moses… Read more »