One Among the Unreached: Year Two Day 220 Devotional

Passage: Acts 8:1-9:31
Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 29

Acts 8:26-29

²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. ²⁷ And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship ²⁸ and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. ²⁹ And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”

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Would God move someone from a fertile field of kingdom harvest to reach one person among the least reached? Philip’s example says, “Yes!” Therefore, God’s servants must be attentive to the Spirit’s leading in their lives.

Father, lead workers to the least reached and unreached. Make them a new harvest field.

Psalm 29:1-2 (NASB)

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.

The Spirit in Steven: Year Two Day 219 Devotional

Passage: Acts 6:8-7:60
Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 28

Acts 7:55-56

But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

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What empowered the witness and testimony of Stephen? He was full of the Spirit. He did not fear dying in service to Christ, because he walked in the Spirit. The Western church’s testimony isn’t weak because we lack political power. It is weak for lack of Spirit-filled disciples.

Father, empower the church to take the gospel to our communities and the ends of the earth.

Psalm 28:1 (NASB)

To You, Lord, I call;
My rock, do not be deaf to me,
For if You are silent to me,
I will become like those who go down to the pit.

Privileged to Suffer: Year Two Day 218 Devotional

Passage: Acts 5:1-6:7
Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 27

Acts 5:41

So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.

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Believers may suffer when they choose to obey God instead of people. The results can be dangerous. In our culture, people may be averse to such suffering and demand better treatment. In contrast, the apostles rejoiced in suffering for their obedience. To suffer because of obedience is a privilege, not a dishonor.

Father, empower us to obey You no matter the cost.

Psalm 27:1 (NASB)

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom should I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life;
Whom should I dread?

In and Out: Year Two Day 217 Devotional

Passage: Acts 3-4
Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 26

Acts 4:12

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”

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The gospel is inclusive and exclusive. It includes anyone who trusts Christ for salvation regardless of who they are, what people they are, and what they have done. However, it excludes anyone who doesn’t come through Jesus, because “no other name… has been given among men by with we must be saved.” There, the apostles understood that they had no choice but to proclaim Jesus. All are invited, but only one way exists.

Keep us faithful to proclaim the exclusive and inclusive message of the gospel.

Psalm 26:3-4 (NASB)

For Your goodness is before my eyes,
And I have walked in Your truth.
I do not sit with deceitful people,
Nor will I go with pretenders.

The Power of Transformation: Year Two Day 216 Devotional

Passage: Acts 2
Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 25

Acts 2:1-4

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, distributing themselves, and a tongue rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with different tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out.

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Apologists for the Christian faith often point to the resurrection as the reason for the Apostles’ transformation from cowering to bold. Equally important was the Spirit’s coming. The Spirit empowered Peter’s preaching and the conversion of thousands. We have no church, no missions, and no transformation without the Holy Spirit.

Thank You that the Spirit came to give life and power to the church.

Psalm 25:16-18 (NASB)

Turn to me and be gracious to me,
For I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses.
Look at my misery and my trouble,
And forgive all my sins.