Author: admin

¹ Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, ² which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,³ concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh ⁴ and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,⁵ through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ⁶ including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

⁷ To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁸ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. ⁹ For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you ¹⁰ always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. ¹¹ For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— ¹² that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.¹³ I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. ¹⁴ I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. ¹⁵ So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Reflection

1. Read this passage a couple of times slowly. Imagine you were Paul writing this letter.  What was Paul’s feeling toward the believers in Rome? And his attitude about spreading the gospel?
2. Pause and reflect.  How did the Holy Spirit touch you through this passage?
3. Do you share Paul’s excitement and passion about the gospel? Whom among your friends do you have the greatest opportunity of reaching with the gospel? What steps can you take to reach them?

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.

If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 15:12-14

¹² A scoffer does not like to be reproved;
    he will not go to the wise.
¹³ A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.
¹⁴ The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

¹⁷ After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.¹⁸ When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. ¹⁹ But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation. ²⁰ For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.” ²¹ And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you.²² But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”

²³They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. ²⁴Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. ²⁵They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:  ²⁶” ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”  ²⁷For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears,  and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ ²⁸“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” ³⁰For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. ³¹Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Meditation

1. Paul spent two years of imprisonment in Rome welcoming everyone who came to his house.  Acts began with a crucifixion turned into a resurrection.  There had been imprisonments, beatings, martyrdoms – not just for Paul but for many members of the early church.  There had been open threats and secret intrigues.  And there had been the more subtle danger of compromise – the pressure to be drawn back into Jewish ritual, absorbed into the old rule keeping.  Through it all, the gospel of Christ was spread to the world.  Every attempt to confine it, to compromise it, to muffle it, to reject it was finally ineffective.  It spread from the center of the world in Rome through the far reaches of the globe.
2. Acts closes with this image: Paul, opening his home and his heart, preaches boldly and without hindrance to all comers without.  As he has received hospitality, he offers it to “all who came to him.”  As “God shows no partiality” (10:34), God’s messengers must be similarly inclusive.
3. Pray that God will help me to offer hospitality to all who came to me and to show no partiality just as God does.

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Paul had an open door policy when he was under house arrest in Rome.  He welcomed all who came to see him and shared the gospel with them.  Discuss: Do you like to welcome people to your home?  How can your family show kindness and generosity to those visitors?  Write them in your Family Devotional Journal.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 15:8-11

⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.  ⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he loves him who pursues righteousness.  ¹⁰ There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die.  ¹¹ Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the children of man!

⁹ Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, ¹⁰ saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” ¹¹ But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. ¹² And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

¹³When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. ¹⁴Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the “northeaster,” swept down from the island. ¹⁵The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. ¹⁶As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure. ¹⁷When the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. ¹⁸We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. ¹⁹On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. ²⁰When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.  ²¹After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. ²²But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. ²³Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me ²⁴and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ ²⁵So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. ²⁶Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

Meditation

1. In spite of the terrible conditions, Paul spoke hopefully that an angel of God had appeared to him in the night and assured him that he would arrive in Rome and stand trial before Caesar; and all who were with him would get there, too.  He said, “Don’t give up… take heart” (the Message vv24-25).  God would strip them of what had obscured their awareness of him – the ship, the job, and the mad rush to Rome.  But their lives would be preserved.
2. God is also out to get us.  Everything we consider a loss can be a chance to discover God at the center, to realize the preciousness of life itself, of love unencumbered by lust and pride and greed.  The Voice keeps arriving in the midst of terror, disaster and hopelessness: “Don’t give up… take heart.”
3. Tell God your fear and helplessness.  Find God in the midst of your problem and His presence.  Listen to Him telling you: “Don’t give up… take heart.”

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Talk about one incident when anyone or the whole family was on a boat.  Remember another time when Jesus was on a boat?  What happened?  Sing: “With Christ in the vessel I can smile at the storm”.  Thank God for His protection in dangerous situations.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 15:4-7

⁴ A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.  ⁵ A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.  ⁶ In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.  ⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.

¹ So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

² “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, ……

²⁴ And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.”²⁵ But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. ²⁶ For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” ²⁸ And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” ²⁹ And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

³⁰ Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. ³¹ And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” ³² And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

 

Meditation

1. Though his innocence has been clearly stated many times, Paul remains a prisoner. He repeatedly has to face the unfair charges of the Jewish leaders. He has made his defense with integrity and power, and in return he gets only threats of death. In it all Paul’s witness remains consistent. His greatest desire is that his accusers and those in judgment over him will become Christians.
2. How do you respond to the unfairness in the world around you—poverty, homelessness, the unfairness in your own life? It is difficult to assume an attitude like Paul’s in the face of injustice. But God sees and knows what is right, and he understands the anger we feel. Express your thoughts and feelings to him. Let him calm the stirring in your heart with his gentle words.

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

When Paul spoke before Agrippa, he shared his testimony clearly.  It can be outlines as follows:  what your life was like before you met Christ; how you came to know Christ; how your life has been different as a Christian.  Encourage family members to write out their testimony using this outline as a guide.  Record them in your Family Devotional Journal.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 15:1-3

¹ A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  ² The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.  ³ The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. 

¹Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, ²where the chief priests and Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. ³They urgently requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. ⁴Festus answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. ⁵Let some of your leaders come with me and press charges against the man there, if he has done anything wrong.”  ⁶After spending eight or ten days with them, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. ⁷When Paul appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove.  ⁸Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”  ⁹Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”  ¹⁰Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. ¹¹If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”  ¹²After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

 

Meditation

1. Paul has kept his identity as a Roman, a Jew, and a Christian.  He diligently laboured for the Lord, he obeyed the Roman’s law, and he didn’t defy the Temple.  Therefore, Festus and King Agrippa knew he was innocent.
2. Everyone has different identities, a citizen of a country, an employee of a company, a student of a school, a friend to someone, a member of a family.   How am I keeping my various identities?  In trying to maintain one identity, am I overlooking the others?  Who am I at the core of my identity?
3. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show me where I need to change and improve.  Ask God for the needed strength.

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Ask everyone to ask this question:  Who Are You?  Discuss some of the roles/identities each mentions.  What are the responsibilities and privileges of such role?  Are you a good …….?  How can we become better ……?  Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help each one to be better ………  Record this in your Family Devotional Journal.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 14:33-35

³³ Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.  ³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.  ³⁵ A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

¹ And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. ² And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, ³ in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. ⁴ But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. ⁵ For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. ⁶ He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. ⁸ By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”

⁹ The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

¹⁰ And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. ¹¹ You can verify that ……

²² But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” ²³ Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

²⁴ After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” ²⁶ At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.²⁷ When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

 

Meditation

1. The high priest Ananias brought some elders and a spokesman before the Roman governor Felix. Paul made a compelling defense and showed how weak the chief priest’s case against him was.  But Felix waffled, and refused to decide the case.  Paul was put under house arrest, and kept there for two years.   Later Felix and his third wife heard Paul’s discourse on “righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come”.  Felix was frightened and sent Paul away.  Only his hope that Paul would offer him a bribe moved Felix to talk with Paul from time to time.  It seems this is a defeat for Paul.  But in fact it was success!  For Paul, and the Gospel, had a hearing.
2. We shouldn’t expect to be popular, or that the majority of folks will experience instant conversion.  But at least we must have a chance to be heard.
3. To follow up on #4 of Ch 22’s meditation; was there an opportunity foryou to share your story with someone?  Did you have a hearing?  How was it received?  What did you learn from this experience?

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Review your Family Devotional Journal to chapter 17 and 18.  Ask:  Has your family or anyone shared the gospel with someone on the list?  How did it go?  Was he/she willing to accept Christ?  What did you learn from this experience?  If you haven’t shared, decide when to do it.  Write it in the Journal and pray that you will indeed do it this time.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 14:29-32

²⁹ Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.  ³⁰ A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.  ³¹ Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.  ³² The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death.

¹Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” ²At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. ³Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”  ⁴Those who were standing near Paul said, “You dare to insult God’s high priest?”  ⁵Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.'”  ⁶Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.” ⁷When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)  ⁹There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” ¹⁰The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

¹¹ The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

Meditation

1. Why would the high priest react so violently to Paul’s statement in v1 (see 21:21, 28)?  Why and how does Paul show his respect for the Jewish Law (vv1-5)?
2. Paul then changed the focus of attention from whether he has kept the law to his hope in the resurrection.  Given the tension on this issue between the Pharisees and Sadducees, what must the next few minutes of the assembly have been like?  What effect does the split have on Paul’s cases (vv7-10)?
3. The last time God spoke to Paul was in 18:9-10, after he had experienced a series of setbacks.  How would the Lord’s message here (v11) help Paul again?  How might this help Paul remember what the Lord said about him to Ananias in 9:15-16?
4. Describe a time when you felt the Lord especially near to you.  What circumstances caused this sense of the Lord’s presence?  What were the impacts on you?

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Paul knows that Jesus’ resurrection gave his life meaning and hope.  Sing “Because He Lives”.  Talk about the lyrics of this song.  Write the lyrics in your Family Devotional Journal.  Thank God for the hope Jesus’ resurrection gives you each day.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 14:26-28

²⁶ In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.  ²⁷ The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.  ²⁸ In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.

¹“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.” ²When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.    Then Paul said: ³“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. ⁴I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, ⁵as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.  ⁶“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. ⁷I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’  ⁸” ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.    ” ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. ⁹My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.  ¹⁰“‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.    “‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ ¹¹ And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.

¹² “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, ¹³ came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. ¹⁴ And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; ¹⁵ for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

 

Meditation

1. Paul’s faith began in an amazing way on the road to Damascus.  He was bold to share his story and ultimately The Story, the one of God and man.  This passage gives us a thorough yet succinct explanation of the person Paul was before he met Christ, how he met Christ, and the person he became after he met Christ.
2. Reflect on your story –Who were you before Christ?  What was meeting Christ like?  In what ways is your life different now as a result of meeting him?  Are other people different today because of your interaction with Jesus?
3. Think about how you might describe your life-altering encounter with the Living God and your faith journey.  Now write your story of faith in just two or three paragraphs.  Ask someone to help you make it a simple but interesting story of your faith journey.
4. Pray that God will provide you an opportunity to present your story of God and you with another person in the coming week.  When you sense the open opportunity, take the risk and share the stories.

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Paul clearly knows that God has assigned him to be a preacher and a missionary.  God has a plan (or an assignment) for every Christian.  What do you think God has “assigned” for you to do?  How do you know?  What are you going to do about your “assignment”?  Write the assignments in your Family Devotional Journal.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 14:22-25

²² Do they not go astray who devise evil?  Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.  ²³ In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.  ²⁴ The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly.  ²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.

⁷ When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. ⁸ On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. ⁹ He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. ¹⁰After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ” ¹²  When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” ¹⁴When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”  ¹⁵After this, we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Manson, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples.

 

Meditation

1. Believers in Caesarea pleaded Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but to no avail.  So, they said, “The Lord’s will be done.”  How would this prayer “The Lord’s will be done” explain who’s really in control of your life?.  Now, who’s in charge of your life?  Is God in his rightful place in your life, or is there another “god” seated on that throne?
2. On January 8, 1956, deep in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador, five missionaries were brutally murdered by a tribe of stone age Indians. The five young men sang this hymn “We Rest on Thee”as they went to their death, taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Auca Indians. Check out this remarkable story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Duqi9T6JOh0

We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling,And needing more each day Thy grace to know:
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing, We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing, We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.
We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender! Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise;
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor, Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor, Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.

1. The five missionaries and their families knew that God was in charge of their lives.  Theirs is a life that lived out the prayer “The Lord’s will be done.”  After the murdering, the wives and other family members decided to stay to continue the missionary work left by their loved ones among these people.  A tragedy beyond comprehension, through love and forgiveness, has been transformed to an inspiring and moving story of miracles.  This link is a continuing story produced by one of the missionaries’ son, Steve Saint.  http://endofthespear.com/

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Get yourself acquainted with the five missionaries’ story.  Decide if and how you are going to view one or both movies.  There is a lot of material to talk about even if you only view a portion of them: on trusting God, depending on God and obeying God at all cost, etc.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 14:19-21

¹⁹ The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.  ²⁰ The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.  ²¹ Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

 

¹⁷From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. ¹⁸When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. ¹⁹I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. ²⁰You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. ²¹I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.  ²²“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. ²⁴However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.  ²⁵ And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.²⁶ Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, ²⁷ for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. ²⁸ Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. ²⁹ I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; ³⁰ and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. ³¹ Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. ³² And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. ³³ I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. ³⁴ You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. ³⁵ In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

 

Meditation

1. Paul is saying his final goodbye to the elders at Ephesus. He knows that more hardship and prison await him in Jerusalem. And he will never see the faces of these elders again.  It was a sad but fond farewell.  Somehow in just two brief years an unbreakable bond had been forged between Paul and these new Christians.
2. How was this possible?  Paul let people know how he lived (v18) by opening up his life and inviting people to see and know the real him.  Paul served the Lord with humility (v19) and maintained a close relationship with the Lord.  Paul didn’t hesitate to witness for Christ and taught new Christians God’s word (vv20-21).  He lived as an example of Christian values in action (vv33-35).
3. These qualities combined to foster a bond of love and affection between Paul and the Ephesians.  And the same qualities can create bonds of affection among us today, too.
4. Who is in your spiritual care?  How are you preparing those that you nurture spiritually so that you can leave them with the same confidence?
5. What would you want to say to those in your spiritual care if you knew that you were going to die? Take time to express your hope and your love to that person in the near future.  Ask God for the courage to say these most important words to those you love and for whom you care deeply.

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Paul obviously had a clear sense of purpose in life.  What is it (vv22-24)?  What is your life’s purpose?  Allow everyone to share.  Write them down in your Family Devotional Journal.  What training or experience will you need to achieve your life’s goal?  Will the family need to make some sacrifices to help you achieve that?

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 14:15-18

¹⁵ The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.  ¹⁶ One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.  ¹⁷ A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.  ¹⁸ The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

⁸ And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. ⁹ But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.¹⁰ This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

¹¹ And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, ¹² so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. ¹³Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” ¹⁴Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. ¹⁵(One day) the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” ¹⁶Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.  ¹⁷When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. ¹⁸Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. ¹⁹A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. ²⁰In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

 

Meditation

1. Paul’s ministry in Ephesus was blessed by God with miracles and wonders.  Some seeing this tried to imitate Paul’s ministry by using Jesus’ name to cast out evil spirits.  But they failed miserably.  Wonderful things happened among many of the believers.  The word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
2. Uttering or chanting the name of Jesus is no key to supernatural power.  The key is having a personal relationship with Jesus, being available to Him and learning to see where He is at work.
3. Do you use Jesus’ name lightly?  If so, are you willing to honour God and ask him to help you off this bad habit?
4. Is there still anything in your life that belongs to the idols or witchcraft?  Are you willing to get rid of them all?  Do you want to honour God by getting rid of these objects?  Ask God to give you peace and strength for it.  (It’s best you consult your pastor or church leader for this decision and ask for their prayer and direction.)

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Do you use Jesus’ name often?  Did you use it because of your love and respect of Jesus or for other reasons?  What is so important of Jesus’ name?  How do we use Jesus’ name properly?  Parent, lead the family for a prayer of confession, if needed, and ask Jesus to help everyone to treat Jesus and His name with love and respect.  Make a poster reminding everyone to respect Jesus’ name.  Draw it in your Family Devotional Journal.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 14:12-14

¹² There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.  ¹³ Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.  ¹⁴ The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.

²⁴Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.  ²⁷When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. ²⁸For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

 

Meditation

1. Apollos probably came to believing the Way and learn about Jesus in Alexandria.  Basically, he was still waiting for the arrival of the Messiah just as John the Baptist.  His baptism was based on repentance but not on believing the finished work of Christ.
2. Priscilla and Aquila realized the problem with Apollos, they graciously invited him over and explained to him the way of God more accurately and clearly.
3. When you see someone making mistakes, what is your reaction?  Do you have the love and wisdom to correct and to teach?

For me ‘twas not the truth you taught,

   To you so clear, to me so dim,

But when you came to me you brought

   A sense of Him!

And from your eyes He beckons me,

  And from your heart His love is shed,

Till I lose sight of you and see

  The Christ instead.

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

When Priscilla and Aquila realized the problem with Apollos, they invited him over and explained to him the way of God more accurately and clearly.  What would you do if you see your friend making mistakes?  How would you help him/her?  Discuss different situations and ways to help.  Turn to yesterday’s page in your Family Devotional Journal, to the people and place you decided to share the gospel.  Plan the steps to carry it out and pray for them.

 

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

 

Proverbs for Today 14:8-11

⁸ The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.  ⁹ Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.  ¹⁰ The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.  ¹¹ The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.

²²Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. ²³For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.  ²⁴“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. ²⁵And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. ²⁶From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. ²⁷God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ²⁸‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’  ²⁹“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill. ³⁰In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. ³¹For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

Meditation

1. Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill (Areopagus) began by drawing on pagan Greek poets to establish a point of contact, and then went on to proclaim God’s truth.  Paul had caught glimpses of God’s truth in the religion and culture of those people but knew that they needed to be pointed to the God of the truth. So Paul’s quotes connected him with the Athenians and set the stage for his teaching.
2. What are the “points of truth” from which you can start to communicate the gospel to those in your world?
3. Majority of the people today still doesn’t know the true God.  How do you need to better prepare yourself to effectively communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ to those to whom God has called you to minister?  Ask God’s help to prepare you to be His witness to unbelieving folks around you.

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Use a Bible Map to locate where Areopagus.  Paul shared the gospel with the Greeks at this place.  Whom have you shared the gospel with?  Where did you do it?  Identify the people and place that you can share the gospel with this week or this month.  Write them in your Family Devotional Journal.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 14:5-7

⁵ A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.  ⁶ A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.  ⁷ Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

²²The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. ²³After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. ²⁴Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.  ²⁵About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. ²⁷The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”  ²⁹The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  ³¹They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” ³²Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. ³³At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. ³⁴The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.  ³⁵When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” ³⁶The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”

Meditation

1. Paul and Silas were unjustly put in jail.  However, their response to being in jail and beaten was to pray and sing hymns.  How does your response to opposition to and suffering for the gospel compare and contrast to that of Paul and Silas?
2.  The jailer was so affected by Paul and Silas’ behavior that he made his prisoners feel at home with his family, Paul and Silas baptized the family, they ate a festive meal together while nobody had any idea what would happen to Paul and Silas the next day.  What an amazing outcome out of suffering and injustice.
3. Paul and Silas speak the truth of the gospel as well as living it out. How do you give both a verbal and a living witness to Jesus?
4. Ask God to give you courage as you step in faith to obey him, to tell those around you about the good news that has transformed your life.  (Refer to the Prayer Guidelines on p??.)

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Do a Bible skit using this passage.  Decide how many characters in the skit, assign the different roles.  Record the decision on your Family Devotional Journal. Enjoy a dramatic rendition of this incredible episode.

 

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 14:1-4

¹ The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.  ² Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises him.  ³ By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.  ⁴ Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.