Bible League: Living His Word "Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead."— Acts 4:10 NLT Believers often do not bear the fruit of joy because they're reading the Bible for "revelation" to pass onto others in ministry. However, we must read to absorb the truth about who God is and who we are in Christ. This will lead us to be joyful ministers. Peter learned who God was through free grace in Matthew 16:17 (ERV); "Jesus answered, 'You are blessed, Simon, son of Jonah. No one taught you that. My Father in heaven showed you who I am.'" Peter also absorbed who he was from the Lord; "Now I say to you that you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it" (Matthew 16:18). So, Peter could later write that the Ephesians were chosen, in love, by God before the world began; "This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure" (Ephesians 1:5). It gave God "great pleasure" to choose you; you are loved. That is cause for joy! In today's verse, the healed man spoken of was once a disabled beggar. He had wanted money, yet Peter told him to get up and walk (Acts 3:4-6). Peter's perspective of God and himself led to his joyful, effective ministry to the crowd that had gathered as well as the opposing temple council: "Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd" (Acts 3:12-13). Peter joyfully turned his fame toward God. The healed man literally "held tightly to Peter and John" after the miracle of healing at the temple gate; but Peter reiterated that God healed the man to bring glory to Jesus. Peter spoke, "Friends, what you did to Jesus was done in ignorance." Peter joyfully extended grace to the crowd. This made for an attractive delivery of the Gospel and repentance, leading to 5,000 persons being saved (Acts 3:17; 4:4). Peter declared, "There is salvation in no one else" (Acts 4:12-13). Peter joyfully countered heresy with relationship rather than religion. The members of the council knew that God had empowered him because he and John were "ordinary" men with no special training in the scriptures. Peter spouted, "Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than Him?" (Acts 4:19). Peter joyfully trusted God instead of fearing man. The council threatened them against speaking the name of Jesus, but then they let Peter and John go, because the crowd was praising God. Peter prayed, "And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your Word." Peter joyfully depended on God through prayer. As a result, the "meeting place shook," and the believers were all filled with the Holy Spirit; then they spoke the Word of God with boldness (Acts 4:29-31). Seek to know God and your identity in Christ so that you exude joy, which will lead to effective ministry today. By Jenny Laux, Bible League International contributor, Wisconsin U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJoshua 1, 2, 3 Joshua 1 -- God Commissions Joshua NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Joshua 2 -- Rahab Welcomes the Spies NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Joshua 3 -- Israel Crosses the Jordan NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 1:57-80 Luke 1 -- Introduction; John's and Jesus' Birth Foretold; Mary's Song; Zachariah's Prophecy NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion This is the day the LORD has made.We will rejoice and be glad in it. Insight There are days when the last thing we want to do is rejoice. Our mood is down, our situation is out of hand, and our sorrow or guilt is overwhelming. We can relate to the writers of the psalms who often felt this way. But no matter how low the psalmists felt, they were always honest with God. And as they talked to God, their prayers ended in praise. Challenge When you don't feel like rejoicing, tell God how you truly feel. You will find that God will give you a reason to rejoice. God has given you this day to live and to serve him—be glad! Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church.What a golden example Christ gives to his disciples! Few masters could venture to say, "If you would practise my teaching, imitate my life;" but as the life of Jesus is the exact transcript of perfect virtue, he can point to himself as the paragon of holiness, as well as the teacher of it. The Christian should take nothing short of Christ for his model. Under no circumstances ought we to be content unless we reflect the grace which was in him. As a husband, the Christian is to look upon the portrait of Christ Jesus, and he is to paint according to that copy. The true Christian is to be such a husband as Christ was to his church. The love of a husband is special. The Lord Jesus cherishes for the church a peculiar affection, which is set upon her above the rest of mankind: "I pray for them, I pray not for the world." The elect church is the favorite of heaven, the treasure of Christ, the crown of his head, the bracelet of his arm, the breastplate of his heart, the very centre and core of his love. A husband should love his wife with a constant love, for thus Jesus loves his church. He does not vary in his affection. He may change in his display of affection, but the affection itself is still the same. A husband should love his wife with an enduring love, for nothing "shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." A true husband loves his wife with a hearty love, fervent and intense. It is not mere lip-service. Ah! beloved, what more could Christ have done in proof of his love than he has done? Jesus has a delighted love towards his spouse: He prizes her affection, and delights in her with sweet complacence. Believer, you wonder at Jesus' love; you admire it--are you imitating it? In your domestic relationships is the rule and measure of your love--"even as Christ loved the church?" Daily Light on the Daily Path Genesis 6:9 These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.Galatians 3:11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." Genesis 8:20,21 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. • The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 3:20-22 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. • But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, • even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; Romans 5:11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Romans 8:33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; Romans 8:30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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