MANY INFALLIBLE PROOFS DECEMBER 1

Bible Reading: Acts 1:1-11 Key Verse: verse 3-“To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many

infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:”

Key Words: many infallible proofs

The expression “many infallible proofs” occurs only once in the New Testament. However, Plato and Aristotle used this expression to describe the strongest possible evidence a person could introduce in any matter. Jesus Christ presented himself alive to the apostles on ten different occasions during the 40 days of His resurrection ministry. They saw Him, touched Him, ate with Him, and had more than ample opportunity to discern whether or not He was real. He was. Jesus Christ is alive.

There is no substitution for facts. We frequently make jokes about weathermen. Their forecasts are, at best, educated guesses. Sometimes they are right. Sometimes they are wrong. There is an amusing story of one weatherman who was embarrassed at frequently making wrong guesses. One evening his prediction read, “The forecast for tonight is darkness, turning to daylight by morning.” That was the only forecast he was certain would be correct. We can make plans based on the weather forecast; but sometimes the weather will change and our plans will have to be changed also; but we can always count on the sunrise in the morning. It is fact. Likewise, the program of the church does not depend on the educated guesses of preachers and theologians. It is based on fact. Jesus Christ was the Son of God. He came to earth, died, was resurrected, ascended to the Father, and will return again. This is fact, established by many infallible proofs. When we make our plans based on guesses, even educated ones, we may have to change our plans. But, when we stick to the facts of the ministry of Jesus Christ, we will not go wrong.

To God be the glory!!

What to do:

✞ Make plans for your eternal destiny based upon many infallible proofs…not guesses.

TONGUES DECEMBER 2

Bible Reading: Acts 2:1-15 Key Verse: verse 4- “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak

with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Key Words: speak with other tongues

Speaking in tongues is mentioned three times in the book of Acts. On all three

occasions there were some common factors. First, tongues were always given to groups or classes of people, not to

individuals. In Acts 2, tongues were given to Jews showing that the Holy Spirit had come or been given to the Jewish people. In Acts 10 the Holy Spirit was given to the Gentiles. This was signified by them speaking in tongues. In Acts 19 the Holy Spirit came upon the converts of John the Baptist; but in all three cases it was a sign that the Holy Spirit had been given to classes or groups of people.

Secondly, in every case there were Jews present…because the Jews required a sign (I Corinthians 1:22).

Thirdly, tongues were not a “gibberish,” but a foreign language and it had to be a language that he did not know (Acts 2:6-12).

Fourthly, in Acts tongues were never spoken in the “church.” Tongues in the book of Acts was a one-time event on three different classes or

groups of people to show that each group had received the Holy Spirit. Today, the evidence of being filled with the Spirit is not speaking in tongues,

but according to Paul in Ephesians 5:19-21, it is having a song in your heart (verse 19), an attitude of gratitude (verse 20), and a submissive spirit (verse 21).

May each of us let the Word of God say what it says, not make it say what we desire it to say.

What to do:

✞ Let God’s Word say what it says. That’s what we should live, teach, and proclaim.

Pastor’s Note: The purpose of this devotion is not to offend, but to teach and inspire.

MIRACLES DECEMBER 3

Bible Reading: Acts 3:1-10 Key Verse: verse 9-“And all the people saw him walking and praising God:” Key Words: And all the people saw him walking

Miracles are never the end; they are a means to an end. The purpose of any

miracle God performs is so that Jesus can be preached, the gospel proclaimed, and God glorified. So it was with the lame man being healed. Jesus was preached, the gospel was proclaimed, and God was glorified (read verses 11-26).

We often think of miracles as happening instantaneously which is not the case at all. Most of the miracles of God took place on time. I recently read the following which illustrates this point.

In a recent number of the Sunday School Times a story is told of an Eastern king which illustrates at once our delusion respecting natural processes, and also God’s work and presence in them. The king was seated in a garden, and one of his counselors was speaking of the wonderful works of God.

“Show me a sign,” said the king, “and I will believe.” “Here are four acorns,” said the counselor, “will you, Majesty, plant them in the

ground, and then stoop down for a moment and look into this clear pool of water?” The king did so, “Now,” said the other, “look up.” The king looked up and saw four oak trees where he had planted the acorns.

“Wonderful!” he exclaimed, “This is indeed the work of God.” “How long were you looking into the water?” asked the counselor. “Only a second,” said the king. “Eighty years have passed as a second,” said

the other. The king looked at his garments; they were threadbare. He looked at his reflection in the water; he had become an old man. “There is no miracle here, then,” he said angrily.

“Yes,” said the other, “it is God’s work, whether He did it in one second or in eighty years.”

God is constantly performing miracles in our lives; some take place immediately, and others take place over time.

What to do:

✞ Praise God for the miracles He performs in your life. The greatest of these is your salvation.

CALMNESS IN A CRISIS DECEMBER 4

Bible Reading: Acts 4:1-21 Key Verse: verse 20-“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and

heard.” Key Words: speak the things

We often define courage as an act of bravery, which it is; but there are times

that courage can be demonstrated through our calm spirit. So it was with Peter and John when facing a crisis. Their courage was not seen through an act of defiance but through a calm spirit. “For we cannot help but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

I marvel as I read God’s Word of the men and women who with great calmness of spirit stood firm for God.

There is Job who said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.” The three Hebrew men in the midst of the fiery furnace said, “He will deliver us

out of thy hand.” It was Paul, facing death by decapitation, who said, “I have fought a good fight,

I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” A story is told of a well-known missionary in India who was bowing one night in

prayer at the side of his bed when a great python lowered itself from the rafters of his bungalow and encircled his body with its cold and powerful coils. It made no attempt to constrict, and yet the missionary knew that if he struggled the great serpent would tighten the coils and crush him. With marvelous self-control, and courage born of faith, he went on quietly praying, until at last the animal unwound itself and went back into the roof.

The great spiritual battles of life are not won with man’s sword and shield and guns but with a calm spirit that simply says, “Peace, be still.”

What to do:

✞ Live by God’s Word and ask God to give you a calm spirit.

THE DECEITFUL DUO DECEMBER 5

Bible Reading: Acts 5:1-11 Key Verse: verse 2-“And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and

brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” Key Words: and laid it at the apostles’ feet

The first word in chapter 5 “but” in the Bible is the hinge on which doors swing.

They always mark a decisive change in the story. Things are going well in the church at Jerusalem. People are selling items and

giving the proceeds to the church but Ananias and Sapphira changed that. They sold some land and kept back part of it. The problem is they pretended to give it all. They attempted to deceive and deception is a horrible thing. It wreaks havoc and confusion. Think of Satan deceiving Eve, Jacob deceiving Isaac, and Laban deceiving Jacob. What a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive!

Bob Harris, weatherman for NY TV station WPIX-TV and the nationally syndicated independent Network news, had to weather a public storm of his own making in 1979. Though he had studied math, physics and geology at three colleges, he left school without a degree but with a strong desire to be a media weatherman. He phoned WCBS-TV, introducing himself as a Ph.D. in geophysics from Columbia U. The phony degree got him in the door. After a two-month tryout, he was hired as an off-camera forecaster for WCBS. For the next decade his career flourished. He became widely known as “Dr. Bob.” He was also hired by the New York Times as well as by other businesses as a consulting meteorologist.

Forty years of age and living his childhood dream, he found himself in public disgrace and national humiliation when an anonymous letter prompted WCBS management to investigate his academic credentials. Both the station and the New York Times fired him. His story got attention across the land. He was on the Today Show, the Tomorrow Show, and in People Weekly, among others. He thought he’d lose his home and never work in the media again. Several days later the Long Island Railroad and Bowie Kuhn announced they would not fire him. Then WNEW-TV gave him a job. He admits it was a dreadful mistake on his part and doubtless played a role in his divorce. “I took a shortcut that turned out to be the long way around, and one day the bill came due. I will be sorry as long as I am alive.”

So it is with deception.

What to do:

✞ Remember the old saying, “Honesty is the best policy.” Put it into practice in your daily life.

MUMBLING MURMURER DECEMBER 6

Bible Reading: Acts 6 Key Verse: verse 1-“And in those days, when the number of the disciples was

multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.”

Key Words: there arose a murmuring

In Acts 5 people sold possessions and gave the proceeds to the church. The apostles then took some of the money and helped those who were widows indeed. Evidently though they overlooked the Grecian widows which upset other Grecians in the church and murmuring began.

The word murmur means a low sound, an off-beat sound. Have you ever heard of a heart murmur? Heart murmurs are often caused by a deformed cardiac valve. A murmuring Christian is normally the result of a spiritually deformed heart valve. It is an indication that all is not well spiritually. A murmuring cardiac valve usually will not kill you; they just make you wish you were dead. So it is with a murmuring believer…they usually won’t kill you, but they sometimes make you wish you were dead.

The apostles handled the murmuring Grecians with wisdom. They assigned the “money distribution” to the deacons and let them handle the mumbling murmurers.

A new arrival in Heaven was surprised to see a suggestion box along Main Street. He turned to a more seasoned resident and asked, “If everybody is supposed to be happy in heaven, why is there a suggestion box?” The experienced tenant replied, “Because some people aren’t really happy unless they can complain.”

Boy, isn’t that the truth!!

What to do:

✞ Remember, murmuring and complaining are just a matter of perception. “We can complain because rosebushes bear thorns or we can rejoice because thorn bushes bear roses.” ~ A. L. Todd

THOSE RESISTING REBELS DECEMBER 7

Bible Reading: Acts 7:51-60 Key Verse: verse 51-“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do

always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” Key Words: ye do always resist the Holy Ghost

In the last part of Acts, chapter 6, and all of Acts, chapter 7, we find the

message of the deacon Stephen to the Jewish people. Stephen began his message with God appearing unto Abraham and ended his message with Jesus Christ. But the Jews would hear none of it and resisted the Holy Ghost working in their lives.

Some years ago as a young boy living in Saraland, Alabama, I saw some unusual things but none more so than one Thanksgiving Day when my cousin and I were playing football in our backyard. I saw a turkey walking down the middle of the road. Naturally, my cousin and I forgot about football and began to pursue the turkey. Now, what is the likelihood of us capturing that turkey? We didn’t want to hurt it. We knew it was in danger of dogs, cats, and cars; and we wanted to save it. The problem was that the turkey didn’t want to be saved so he resisted our advances, and eventually, it became an all-out race. We discovered that turkeys can run pretty fast. On one occasion my cousin managed to grab a leg of the turkey. It was then we discovered that turkeys also have a powerful kick! That’s what caused the scar on my cousin’s face, but even that didn’t dampen our desire to capture that turkey. He simply refused our desire to save him. He wanted nothing to do with us.

So it was with the Jews who had Stephen’s message – they wanted nothing to do with Stephen and even stoned him to death.

Today, people are still resisting the Holy Spirit and still have great disdain for the message of Jesus Christ. They carry the same disdain for the messenger.

What a shame! As a result, they do always resist the Holy Ghost and spend their lives running from God Who so desires to save them.

What to do:

✞ Be faithful to deliver the message. It’s not our place to make them heed; we are simply messengers of the gospel.

P. S. We did capture the turkey and returned it to its owner.

A DESERT PLACE DECEMBER 8

Bible Reading: Acts 8:26-40 Key Verse: verse 26-“And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and

go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.”

Key Words: Gaza, which is desert

Remember Philip in the church at Jerusalem? He was one of the deacons in the church at Jerusalem. He is preaching in Samaria, and they had received the Word which caused the church to send Peter and John to release Philip whom God called to Gaza, which is desert.

A desert is a dry place. It is a barren place, a very inhospitable place. Have you ever been to a desert? I don’t mean physically but spiritually. It just seems as though everything spiritually is dry, barren, and inhospitable; and you wonder why you are there. Why has God brought me here? Because there is a eunuch here…someone who needs you; and God has him where He wants you for His glory and for your good, and the good of someone else.

I discovered years ago that God doesn’t do things to us; He allows things for us…for our good and His glory. If Philip had not gone to Gaza, a dry, barren, inhospitable place, the eunuch may have never been born again.

Have you ever studied the ministry of Jesus? He often went to the out-of-the-way places to reach people.

• The Samaritan woman at the well. • The funeral in Nain. • The isle of the Gadarenes where the maniac was saved.

• Jarius’ house when Jarius’ daughter was raised from the dead.

So I challenge you today: if God has you in a dry place, a seemingly barren place, an inhospitable place, He has you there because someone needs you. Be faithful to God where God has you; because there is a Caesarea waiting for you down the road.

What to do:

✞ Be faithful where you are. Remember, the happiest place on earth is where God wants you while the saddest place is where you want you. Don’t believe it? Just ask the Prodigal Son.

ONE STEP AT A TIME DECEMBER 9

Bible Reading: Acts 9:1-9 Key Verse: verse 6-“And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have

me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”

Key Words: what wilt thou have me to do?

There are several points of interest found in Acts, chapter 9. First, Saul set out to persecute and ended up being persecuted. Second, all attacks against His church are a personal attack against Jesus (verse 4). Third, the will of God is one step at a time: 1. go to the city (verse 6); 2. wait on the Lord (verse 9); and 3. receive instructions (verses 17-22).

I have found that the will of God often comes one step at a time. Elijah first had to go to a brook, then to a widow’s house, then to Ahab before finally reaching his battle with the prophets of Baal.

What about Ruth? She was led from Moab to Judah, then she gleaned in the fields, then she met Boaz, and then she laid at his feet…one step at a time.

So it is with God; God leads His dear children along…one step at a time. Some years ago we had a bus captain that knew where every bus child lived,

but knew very few addresses. So when I would inquire as to where a child lived, I would receive the following directions: “Go to the end of the street. At the stop sign, turn left. Go to the big white house. Turn right in the alleyway, then you will come to a fenced-in back yard. On the left is the house, but you’ll need to go to the front

door. They can’t hear you at the back door.” You know, I followed his directions and was successful.

So it is with the will of God…one step at a time…will lead you to where God ultimately wants you!!

What to do:

✞ Good fellowship with God will never happen until we have good “followship.”

THE CONFLICT DECEMBER 10

Bible Reading: Acts 10:1-16 Key Verse: verse 14-“But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing

that is common or unclean.” Key Words: Not so, Lord

We all face conflicts in life: do we or don’t we…should we or shouldn’t

we…can we or can’t we? Conflicts are a part of life. A tremendous struggle took place in Peter’s soul. His ingrained religious

prejudice, reinforced by the clear commands of Biblical ritual law, strengthened by years of rabbinical teaching and tradition, and enforced by lifelong practice warred against the clear demand of the vision. Peter, as always, blurted out what was on his mind. “Not so, Lord.”

A young believer, facing the choice of obeying the call of God to the mission field or of continuing in a rewarding and comfortable business position, once consulted a veteran missionary. He explained how clearly God had called and yet how hard it was to make the choice to go. The missionary opened his Bible at this passage and pointed out to the young person Peter’s words, “Not so, Lord.” “You cannot say that,” the wise, older man explained. “It is either ‘Not so’ or it is ‘Lord.’ The two words put together are a contradiction in terms. Now then,” he continued, “take my Bible and take this pencil. Sit down here and pray about it. Then cross out one of the expressions. Cross out the words ‘not so’ and leave the word ‘Lord,’ or cross out the word ‘Lord’ and leave the words ‘not so.’ You cannot have it both ways.”

So how do we battle the conflicts of life? We either say “not so” or “Lord.” Which will you say?

What to do:

✞ When you say “not so” to the Lord, you are saying “yes” to the world.

GET THE FACTS

DECEMBER 11 Bible Reading: Acts 11:1-21

Key Verse: verse 2-“And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,”

Key Words: contended with him

The Jews of Judea didn’t care for the fact that Peter had carried the Word of God to the Gentiles. They had reached a decision based on what they had heard without allowing Peter the opportunity to give them the facts.

People have not changed, nor have churches. We are still basing things on what we hear or think we hear and what we see or think we see without having all the facts.

In 2004 the top two commercials for the year ran during the Super Bowl. The commercial that finished second had a man standing in line in a convenience store talking with a friend on his cell phone. When he gets to the counter to pay for his items he says in great shock, “You’re being robbed?” talking to his friend. The clerk looking down at the register thinks the man is talking to him and proceeds to grab some pepper spray and spray it in the man’s eyes. Then the clerk jumps over the counter and proceeds to beat the man with a baseball bat, and then shoots him with a taser gun. He did all of this because of what he heard or thought he heard. Wrong decision!

The commercial that finished first had a man preparing a romantic meal for his wife. He was in the kitchen cutting up tomatoes when he steps back and trips over his wife’s white cat. Tomatoes go flying everywhere including leaving tomatoes and tomato stains on the cat. The man picks the cat up to take it to the bathroom to clean it. When his wife sees her husband with her tomato-stained cat in one hand and a knife in the other, she is furious and grabs the lamp and cracks her husband over the head…because of what she thought she saw. Wrong decision!

Moral: Don’t make decisions on what you think you hear or what you think you see…get the facts.

John 7:24, Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Get the facts.

What to do:

✞ No judge can make a right decision without all the facts. Get the facts.

ASTONISHED!! DECEMBER 12

Bible Reading: Acts 12:1-16 Key Verse: verse 16-“But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the

door, and saw him, they were astonished.” Key Words: they were astonished

Have you ever been astonished before? The church at Jerusalem certainly

was astonished by the appearance of Peter. Put in prison by Herod and personally guarded by a quaternion (four) of Roman

soldiers, he was chained to two of these soldiers while two guarded the prison door. The one thing Herod failed to understand is that you can lock men in, but you

can’t lock God out. God sent an angel to open the prison cells and release Peter. When Peter arrived at Mary’s house (mother of John) the people were astonished; but God is in the astonishing business.

On a bitterly cold January day several years ago, five-year-old Jimmy Tonglewicz chased a sled onto the glazed ice of Lake Michigan. In a blink of the eye he disappeared beneath the ice. The last words his dad heard were: “Save me, Dad!” Jimmy’s panic-stricken father plunged into the freezing water, but the cold quickly rendered him helpless and he left the scene in an ambulance. For over twenty minutes Jimmy remained submerged beneath the icy waters. When his limp, lifeless body was pulled from the lake by divers, he had no pulse. But he had a lot going for him—especially the cold water! Scientists call what happened the “mammalian diving reflex.” The shock of the cold water allowed Jimmy to live without breathing an abnormally long time. Slowly he came around, and today Jimmy lives a normal life.

God is amazing, is He not?

What to do:

✞ Turn your problems over to the Lord; He is still in the astonishing business.

ASTONISHED AGAIN

DECEMBER 13 Bible Reading: Acts 13:1-12

Key Verse: verse 12-“Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.”

Key Words: being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord

The church at Jerusalem was astonished at Peter’s freedom from prison, and the deputy was astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. He was so astonished he accepted Jesus Christ as Savior! Now, that’s amazing!

When you study the lives of those from God’s Word who were born again, you see some amazing things.

The Samaritan woman in John 4 went and told those men with whom she had been immoral about Jesus and because of her excitement and the change in her life, they as well came to see. Now that’s amazing!

How about Zaccheus in Luke 19? How many people would give half their goods to the poor, much less restore those people he had defrauded four times over what he had taken? That’s amazing!

What of the maniac in Mark 5? No one could tame the guy. He also was demon-possessed; he was crazy. Yet, after he was saved, he put clothes on and sat with Jesus, and eventually went back to Decapolis and told others what Jesus had done for him. Don’t you know they were astonished?

We could talk about Jarius’ daughter, the widow’s son at Nain, the Philippian jailor, and what about you? Isn’t your salvation amazing? Isn’t every man’s salvation amazing? We do serve an amazing God, do we not?

What to do:

✞ Let others see Jesus through your life so they can be astonished.

TRIALS & TRIUMPHS DECEMBER 14

Bible Reading: Acts 14:1-22 Key Verse: verse 22-“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to

continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

Key Words: through much tribulation

Roy Laurin in his book on Acts writes: “It could be assumed, because these men were servants of God, that they were immune to abuse, danger, hardship, persecution and death. But this would be a false assumption because their leader, the Lord Jesus Christ, had said, ‘In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33). It could be assumed that because many are Christians, who have made great sacrifices, that they are not to be subjected to the same difficulties, diseases and disasters that come to others; but are to enjoy a sort of cosmic immunity to life’s common troubles. This, too, would be a wrong assumption. There is no promise in our Christian faith which gives immunity to the followers of Jesus from the sufferings, adversities, and disabilities of life. In fact, when Paul and Barnabas were returning to their home base at Antioch, at the close of their first missionary thrust into the Gentile world, they stopped at the cities where they had founded churches on their way in and confirmed these believers in their faith and exhorted them to continue in their newly found faith, saying, ‘that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God’ (verse 22).”

It’s often during these times of trial, tribulation, and difficulty that we are at a loss as to what to do like the old woodsman’s advice about catching a porcupine: ”Watch for the slapping tail as you dash in and drop a large washtub over him. The washtub will give you something to sit on while you ponder your next move.”

I don’t always know what the next move is, but I know what it’s not; it’s not to quit. We keep going through all of our trials, tribulations and difficulties until we enter into the kingdom of God.

What to do:

✞ Don’t quit. Winners never quit and quitters never win.

SALVATION THROUGH JESUS DECEMBER 15

Bible Reading: Acts 15:1-21 Key Verse: verse 5-“But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which

believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

Key Words: to command them to keep the law of Moses

When the believers of Judea heard that the Gentiles were saved, they required that they be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. This resulted in no small dissension among the church leaders, and a church council was called to discuss the matter. The final result of the church council is found in Acts 15:20, “But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.” In this they were acknowledging that their salvation does not come through the law, but through the grace of God and the blood of Jesus Christ.

Sin places a “body of death” upon us (Romans 7:24). This term to which Paul alludes is descriptive of a horrible execution that was employed by the Romans. A cadaver would be fastened to the condemned person so that he could not be released from the corpse. Every move he made was accompanied by the deceased. The rotting flesh of this cadaver would spawn disease and infection upon the condemned individual. Eventually he would die a slow, painful, and emotionally horrifying death. Every person has been attached to the decaying carcass of sin (Romans 3:23). Its end result is death (Romans 6:23a), but God has provided an escape to everlasting life through his Son Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23b).

What to do:

✞ Remember, the law condemns but Jesus saves.

A GOOD TESTIMONY DECEMBER 16

Bible Reading: Acts 16:1-8 Key Verse: verse 2-“Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra

and Iconium.” Key Words: well reported of

Acts 16 contains the stories of Paul and Silas and their trip into Macedonia, in

particular to Philippi where they met Lydia by the riverside. They confront the

woman with the spirit of divination, and then there is the story of the Philippian jailor’s experience. We are well familiar with these stories, but the one point that is overlooked is found in verses 1 through 3. As they journey to Philippi they come across a young man by the name of Timothy, who becomes like a son to Paul. This Timothy eventually becomes the pastor of the church at Ephesus which is in Asia.

There are six words that leap out of verse 2 in regard to Timothy: “well reported of by the brethren.” The word well means “a good testimony, a good witness, honest.” Timothy was well reported of.

The word well is also a medical term which means in good health, no physical ailments. Timothy was in good spiritual health; he had no spiritual ailments. No wonder Paul took him with him and trained him for the ministry.

Paul Smith, the famous hotel-keeper in the Adirondacks, told of a lawsuit that he had with a man named Jones in Malone. “I sat in the courtroom before the case began with my witness sitting beside me. Jones entered the courtroom and saw my witness. He stopped abruptly, looked at my witness, looks at me and says, ‘Is he your witness?’ I nodded yes. He smiles and says, ‘Then I have no hope of winning; his testimony is impeccable.’”

That’s what a good testimony will do!

What to do:

✞ Remember, we all have a testimony, but not all testimonies are “well.”

EPICUREANS AND STOICS DECEMBER 17

Bible Reading: Acts 17:16-31 Key Verse: verse 18-“Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the

Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.”

Key Words: Epicureans, and of the Stoics

The Epicureans represented one of the major schools of philosophy in Athens. They believed that indulgence was the key to life and that pleasure was the highest god. Sounds a lot like today, doesn’t it?

The Stoics were just the opposite. They believed that virtue was the supreme god.

Both the Epicureans and Stoics had a “godless” religion. In the book Gaily the Troubadour, published in 1936, Arthur Guiterman wrote

the following poem. Reading his observations, you wouldn't guess it was written nearly fifty years ago.

First dentistry was painless; Then bicycles were chainless And carriages were horseless And many laws, enforceless. Next, cookery was fireless, Telegraphy was wireless, Cigars were nicotineless And coffee, caffeineless. Soon oranges were seedless, The putting green was weedless, The college boy hatless, The proper diet, fatless, Now motor roads are dustless, The latest steel is rustless, Our tennis courts are sodless, Our new religion, godless.

What a shame, but isn’t that the way of man? We want a philosophy of

religion which is self-justification rather than God’s justification.

What to do:

✞ Worship God in Spirit and in truth.

WHAT HAPPENED? DECEMBER 18

Bible Reading: Acts 18:1-11 Key Verse: verse 1-“After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to

Corinth;” Key Words: and came to Corinth

What a remarkable beginning to the church at Corinth! It is here we find

Priscilla and Aquilla. There was Justus (verse 7); even Crispus, the chief ruler believed and was baptized. By the way, he was the only one recorded in God’s

Word to be baptized by Paul. Many of the Corinthians believed. What a great start! But then when you read I Corinthians, they had all kinds of problems.

• In chapter one they were using human wisdom. • In chapter two they were using human discernment. • In chapter three they were carnal. • In chapter four they were bad stewards. • In chapter five fornication was in the church. • In chapter six they were taking one another to court. • In chapter seven divorce was rampant. • In chapter eight they were offending young believers. • In chapter nine they questioned Paul’s apostleship. • In chapter ten and eleven they abused communion. • In chapter twelve they abused spiritual gifts. • In chapter thirteen they failed to love properly. • In chapter fourteen they misused tongues. • In chapter fifteen they questioned the resurrection. • In chapter sixteen they were not tithing.

What happened? They lost their oneness of purpose (I Corinthians 1:10); they

became self-centered (I Corinthians 1:29); and the church, once a good church, became corrupt.

It is imperative that every church member remember that it’s not about you and it’s not about me – it’s all about Jesus Christ.

What to do:

✞ Put Christ first or your church will fail.

SPECIAL MIRACLES DECEMBER 19

Bible Reading: Acts 19:1-12 Key Verse: verse 11-“And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:” Key Words: wrought special miracles

These miracles were for the healthy, not only for the sick, but those who were

hard-hearted toward the things of God.

The word for body here is one of Luke’s medical words. It is the usual word for

skin, and it occurs only here in the New Testament. The word for handkerchiefs is translated napkin in John 11:44, 20:7, and Luke 19:20, where it is used for the napkin bound around the face of Lazarus in the tomb and for the napkin placed on the face of the Lord Jesus in the tomb. Literally it means “sweat cloth.” The word for aprons refers to the linen aprons used by Paul in his tent making. The napkin would be a sweat rag he wore on his head and the apron would be the cloth he tied around his waist. Two more mundane articles to be used in conveying miraculous power could scarcely be imagined. It is the Holy Spirit’s incidental way, perhaps, of acknowledging, blessing, and sanctifying those physical labors of Paul by which he supported himself in the ministry.

These miracles are described as “special miracles.” They were unique. The word used is a composite one made up of ou meaning “no,” expressing full and direct negation) plus tunchano which means “to happen.” In other words, these “special” miracles were no ordinary or chance happenings. The word the Holy Spirit uses for “miracles” is dumanis, which means “mighty works”- mighty manifestations of power.

There was evidently something unusual and extraordinary about these miracles. They were intended, no doubt, to emulate the healing power of the Lord’s own garments (Mark 5:27, 6:56) and to parallel the influence of Peter’s shadow, as well as to enhance the authority of Paul’s evangelistic efforts at Ephesus. Modern “healers” who offer to send healing “prayer cloths” through the mail to those who support their “ministry” should be treated with the skepticism they deserve. This was a special miracle, special in every sense of the word, and not a miracle to be duplicated by others…And to that I give a hearty amen!

What to do:

✞ Remember, God is in the healing business. ✞ God gives us doctors and medicine, but He is the One Who makes

them work.

SLEEPING IN CHURCH DECEMBER 20

Bible Reading: Acts 20:1-16 Key Verse: verse 9-“And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus,

being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.”

Key Words: fallen into a deep sleep

I really do feel sorry for Eutychus. It was bad enough that he fell asleep in church while Paul was preaching; he even fell out of the window to his death three stories below. Dr. Luke included the incident for all the world to read. Think of it, the only time Eutychus got his name in the Bible, was when he was sleeping in church.

Now, Eutychus is not the only one to fall asleep in church. I have watched couples nod off in magnificent rhythm. I mean perfect timing. Why, there are our spiritual church sleepers: they fall asleep; wake up long enough to say amen and then doze back off into never-never land. Then there was the lady who had the strangest wheeze and smile while she was snoring. It reminded me of a chattering chimpanzee.

Why do people fall asleep in church? • Training: That’s right, we were trained as small children to stretch out on the

pew beside our parents and sleep away. Habits are hard to break. • Physical Factors: Medicine we are on. • Indifference: Some people would rather sleep than be fed God’s Word. • Boredom: Let’s face it, some messages can be boring.

So much for the diagnoses, what about the remedy? • The Service: Must be conducive for worship: good music and a few good,

hearty “Amens” every now and then help congregational involvement. • Physical Preparation: Get a good night’s rest on Saturday night; get up on

Sunday morning in time to get ready without a lot of helter skelter. • Spiritual Preparation: Take time to have prayer for the service before

coming to church. • The Speaker: Should be alert and ready, have his message well prepared.

We are not in the entertainment business but each message should be interesting.

Stay awake! It’s better to rest in the Spirit than sleep in the pew!!

What to do:

✞ Apply the principles above.

WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE DECEMBER 21

Bible Reading: Acts 21:15-38 Key Verse: verse 36-“For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with

him.” Key Words: away with him

Paul had become a seasoned soldier of the Cross by the time he returned to

Jerusalem. He had established churches all over Greece and Asia Minor, and the story of his ministry was known by all the believers. He came to Jerusalem bearing a benevolence offering (Acts 24:17) and the moving story of his work among the Gentiles.

Paul related to James and the elders of the church the story of multitudes of Gentiles who had received Christ and the establishment of scores of churches.

The response of the leaders of the church in Jerusalem did not speak well of their spiritual condition. The persecution had diminished in Jerusalem, and they had evidently grown soft. The leaders rejoiced with Paul, glorifying the Lord (Acts 21:20). James and the elders then proposed that Paul involve himself in activities contrary to his conscience. They asked Paul to accompany the four men under a Nazarite vow into the Temple (Acts 21:23, 24). His presence was calculated to suggest that he supported keeping the ceremonial law.

Paul agreed to accompany the four men. At the end of the days of purification a group of Jews made charges against Paul while he was in the Temple. They accused him of teaching contrary to the law and of bringing a Gentile named Trophimus into a section of the Temple where Gentiles were forbidden (Acts 21:27-29).

The Jews stirred up the whole city against Paul. They intended to kill the apostle during the confusion.

An unsaved Roman officer rescued Paul from the Jews. The apostle was bound in chains and imprisoned in the castle (Acts 21:33, 34). Although there were many thousands of Jews in Jerusalem that had become Christians, it appears that

they had little influence in the city. None of those elders who encouraged Paul to go to the temple were present to lend him moral support at his arrest.

Now, with friends like this, who needs enemies? Which raises the question, who is a friend?

A British publication once offered a prize for the best definition of a friend. Among the thousands of answers received were the following:

• “One who multiplies joys, divides grief, and whose honesty is inviolable.” • “One who understands our silence.” • “A volume of sympathy bound in cloth.” • “A watch that beats true for all time and never runs down.”

The winning definition read: • “A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out.”

What to do:

✞ Based upon these definitions, how many real friends do you have? Thank the Lord for real friends.

PROBLEMS EQUAL OPPORTUNITY DECEMBER 22

Bible Reading: Acts 22:1-21 Key Verse: verse 16-“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash

away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Key Words: calling on the name of the Lord In Acts 21 Paul was placed under arrest for polluting the holy place (Acts

21:28). Much of the remaining part of Acts is the defense of Paul before various Roman rulers. His arrest was the first step of a journey that would lead from Jerusalem all the way to Rome. His defense began before a petty Roman official in Jerusalem and was completed before Caesar. At each hearing, Paul turned his defense into an opportunity to preach the gospel. Believers everywhere should learn from Paul’s example. Trials are really divinely appointed opportunities.

One of my favorite sayings is “Problems are only an opportunity for improvement.” Paul’s problems were opportunities to preach the Gospel which upset this unsaved crowd.

Theodore Epp, founder of Back to the Bible radio ministry, realized something was wrong when he stopped receiving critical mail. Convicted that he was not challenging the flock enough, he changed his preaching. “I’m afraid that when I’m pleasing everybody, I’m not pleasing the Lord,” he later said, “and pleasing the Lord is what counts.”

This is not to suggest that a pastor is only successful when he is upsetting people! But he must be certain that he is first and foremost faithful to the One he serves. He is fulfilling a divine commission when he preaches. Just as an ambassador is entrusted not with his own message but with his superior’s message, so the minister is entrusted with the Word of God. Before it is delivered, therefore, every message should be laid at the foot of His throne with one question: “Is it faithful toYou, my Lord?” Or as one German pastor would always pray in the pulpit, “Cause my mind to fear whether my heart means what I say.”

Paul certainly was not afraid to preach the Gospel, nor should we be!

What to do:

✞ View problems as opportunities for sharing the Gospel.

A DIVIDED MOB DECEMBER 23

Bible Reading: Acts 23:1-10 Key Verse: verses 6-7- 6“But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees,

and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. 7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.”

Key Words: there arose a dissension

I’ve always thought this particular portion of Scripture to be hilarious. Paul was formally charged by the Jerusalem Jews before the Roman chief

captain. It was obvious, however, that the council was not concerned with justice, only with Paul’s removal. But God gave Paul wisdom. The apostle saw that the council was divided between Pharisees, who believed in the resurrection of the dead, and Sadducees, who denied any resurrection. This division gave Paul his opportunity to thwart the evil purposes of the council. Paul began preaching the Resurrection. The Sadducees rejected the message, but the Pharisees, while rejecting the gospel, began defending the concept of resurrection. The resulting

argument became so heated that the chief captain removed Paul from the chamber, fearing that he would be killed. But the Jews were still bitter against Paul, and that bitterness doubtless increased as they realized that he had tricked them. They were fooled again.

Reminds me of a physics professor at Adelaide University in Australia, Sir Kerr Grant used to illustrate the time of descent of a free-falling body by allowing a heavy ball suspended from the lecture-theater roof trusses to fall some 30 feet and be caught in a sand bucket. Each year the bucket was lined up meticulously to catch the ball -- and each year students secretly moved the bucket to one side, so that the ball crashed thunderously to the floor.

Tiring of this rather stale joke, the professor traced a chalk line around the bucket. The students moved the bucket as usual, traced a chalk mark around the new position, rubbed it out and replaced the bucket in its original spot. "Aha!" the professor exclaimed, seeing the faint outline of the erased chalk mark. He moved the bucket over it and released the ball -- which thundered to the floor as usual.

Just as the trick on the physics professor made him more determined, so were the Jews more determined to rid themselves of Paul; but it reminds us of Romans 8:31b, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

What to do:

✞ Be on God’s side; then you’ll always win.

CHRISTMAS EVE DECEMBER 24

Bible Reading: Matthew 1:18-25 Key Verse: verses 21-“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name

JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Key Words: and she shall bring forth a son Britisher Geoffrey T. Bull, missionary to Tibet, was cold, exhausted, and

hungry. He had been seized by Communists following their takeover of China in 1949, and his future was bleak. His captors drove him day and night across frozen mountains until he despaired of life. Late one afternoon, he staggered into a small village where he was given an upstairs room, swept clean and warmed by a small charcoal brazier.

After a meager supper, he was sent downstairs to feed the horses. It was very dark and very cold. He clambered down the notched tree trunk to find himself in pitch blackness. His boots squished in the manure and straw on the floor. The fetid

smell of animals was nauseating. The horses sighed wearily, tails drooping, yet the missionary expected to be kicked any moment. Geoffrey, cold, weary, lonely, and ill, began to feel sorry for himself.

“Then as I continued to grope my way in the darkness,” he later wrote, “it suddenly flashed into my mind. What’s today? I thought for a moment. In traveling, the days had become a little muddled in my mind. Suddenly it came to me. ‘It’s Christmas Eve.’ I stood suddenly still in that oriental manger. To think that my Savior was born in a place like this. To think that He came all the way from heaven to some wretched eastern stable, and what is more to think that He came for me. How men beautify the cross and the crib, as if to hide the fact that at birth we resigned Him to the stench of beasts and at death exposed Him to the shame of rogues.

“I returned to the warm, clean room which I enjoyed even as a prisoner, bowed to thankfulness and worship.”

Don’t forget this Christmas season to worship Jesus.

What to do:

✞ Celebrate the greatest of all gifts: the gift of Jesus through Whom we can have everlasting life.

CHRISTMAS DAY DECEMBER 25

Bible Reading: Matthew 2 Key Verse: verse 1-“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of

Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,” Key Words: Now when Jesus was born

Robert J. Morgan writes: “Many historians believe the well-known song, The

Twelve Days of Christmas, is actually a Christian hymn in disguise. During the reign of England’s Queen Elizabeth I, a staunch Protestant, English Catholics were oppressed and persecuted. Priests met secretly with small groups of Catholics, risking their lives to conduct worship and observe mass. “Under such circumstances, it was difficult to train or catechize Catholic children. But an unknown, clever priest found a unique way of teaching the Gospel to children, using the theme of the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany, when the Wise Men, according to tradition, arrived with their gifts for the Christchild.

”The priest hid Biblical truth in the symbols he used in his carol, beginning with the words On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…The True Love referred to God the Father, and the Me represents the Christian who receives the gifts. The Partridge in a Pear Tree is Jesus. Why a partridge? Mother partridges are known for feigning injury to decoy predators from their babies. The children were thereby taught about Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf. ”The two turtle doves represented the Old and New Testaments. “The three French hens symbolized faith, hope, and love the three great virtues we should display as we come to know Christ as Lord and read the Old and New Testaments. The other symbols: Four calling birds – the four Gospels Five golden rings – the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch Six geese a laying – the six days of creation Seven swans a-swimming – the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit Eight maids a-milking – the eight Beatitudes of Matthew 5 Nine ladies dancing – nine choirs of angels Ten lords a-leaping – the Ten Commandments Eleven pipers piping – the eleven faithful apostles Twelve drummers drumming – the twelve articles of the Apostles Creed*

While I cannot validate the above information, I do know this: Christmas is all about Jesus.

What to do:

✞ From all of our Refreshing Daily staff: Merry Christmas. We do hope yours is!

DELAY IS DEADLY DECEMBER 26

Bible Reading: Acts 24:22-27 Key Verse: verse 25-“And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and

judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”

Key Words: Go thy way for this time

Paul took every opportunity to witness and share God’s message of amazing grace through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Felix, the procurator of the region, heard Paul’s message and delayed in making his decision for Jesus, although I really believe that Felix was never serious about accepting Jesus. He hoped Paul would pay him money for his freedom, but nevertheless, Felix’s response to the message of Paul was, “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” His delay was costly. So far as we know, Felix died without Christ. Delay is deadly.

It is said that in certain parts of Africa, monkey meat is considered a delicacy. The African tribesmen have a unique way of capturing the monkey. They carve a hole in the base of a tree and then place nuts that the monkey is known to feast on in the hole of the tree. The hole is large enough for the monkey to put his hand in without stretching his hand out and bringing all his fingers together, then he can grasp the nuts. The problem is his fist is clinched and will not come out of the hole. The only way the monkey can free itself is by letting go of his favorite food…which he refuses to do. So he becomes easy prey for his captors. The monkey’s delay is deadly.

So it was with Felix and all who delay too long. They become prey to the enemy who desires to capture them.

What to do:

✞ Let go of the things holding you captive and turn to Jesus…because delay is deadly.

PLEASING PEOPLE DECEMBER 27

Bible Reading: Acts 25:1-12 Key Verse: verse 12-“Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council,

answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.” Key Words: unto Caesar shalt thou go

The Jews were not content with Felix’s decision to leave Paul in prison (Acts

24:27). They wanted Paul to be executed so when Festus (governor of the province) came into their area, they appealed their case to him. He brought Paul before him and Paul appealed to Caesar.

Neither Felix nor Festus wanted anything to do with Paul. They both knew he was innocent but both also knew that to let him go would displease the Jewish people.

I recently read an old fable that has been passed down for generations which tells about an elderly man who was traveling with a boy and a donkey. As they walked through a village, the man was leading the donkey and the boy was walking behind. The townspeople said the old man was a fool for not riding, so to please them he climbed up on the animal's back. When they came to the next village, the people said the old man was cruel to let the child walk while he enjoyed the ride. So, to please them, he got off and set the boy on the animal's back and continued on his way. In the third village, people accused the child of being lazy for making the old man walk, and the suggestion was made that they both ride. So the man climbed on and they set off again. In the fourth village, the townspeople were indignant at the cruelty to the donkey because he was made to carry two people. The frustrated man and boy took their donkey and went back home.

The moral of the fable is that when you try to please people, you end up accomplishing nothing. So it was with Felix and Festus…they accomplished nothing. This should never be our testimony!

What to do:

✞ Live to please the Lord and you’ll accomplish much.

THINKING YOURSELF HAPPY DECEMBER 28

Bible Reading: Acts 26:1-23 Key Verse: verse 2- “I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for

myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:”

Key Words: I think myself happy

There is something to be said for thinking yourself happy. We are told in Proverbs 23:7a, “For as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

In the museum of the State House of Mississippi one can see an old rusty breastplate and halberd. They are relics of the first expedition of the Spaniards to Florida and the lands to the west. The lure of gold drew them to that fabled shore; but they found only monotonous stretches of sand, melancholy fir trees, venomous reptiles, poisonous insects, malarial savannahs, wild beasts, and wilder men. They were seeking for gold; but the farther they wandered into the wilderness the farther away from gold they went. The story of these hapless Spanish adventurers, wandering about in the swamps and jungles, now despairing and feverish with hope born of some tale of treasure just beyond them, seeking for the yellow metal that so often strikes men blind when they find it—is not this a parable of life?

All men are seeking for gold. The drunkard on the street, the thief slipping into a house, the student burning the midnight oil, the businessman at his desk…none of these are happy because their thoughts are on gold.

Paul could be happy because his thought life was on Jesus. Now, that’s something to think about!

What to do:

✞ Think yourself happy by thinking on Jesus.

ALMOST DECEMBER 29

Bible Reading: Acts 26:24-32 Key Verse: verse 28-“Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be

a Christian.” Key Words: Almost thou persuadest me

Almost is nothing more than a near miss – but it’s still a miss. It’s like almost

scoring a touchdown in football, almost passing a test in school, almost staying within your budget. Almost is just a positive way of saying you didn’t succeed.

In my youth I had several responsibilities around the house: mowing the grass, weeding the garden, sweeping the garage, etc. Every other week I had to wash the dirty dishes, dry them, and put them away which I had failed to do on one occasion. When my dad asked me if I had finished my chores (which he knew I hadn’t) my response was, “Well, dad, almost.” I’ll never forget what my dad did. He pulled out a dollar, which was my allowance for the week, and held it out. When I reached for it, my dad pulled it back and said, “Whew, that was close. I almost gave you your allowance.” Then smiling, he said, “Are you happy with almost getting your allowance?” I naturally replied, “No, sir.” He then said, “Your employer won’t be happy with you almost doing the job, either.” I learned my lesson well.

Almost doing our job for God is failing to do our job for Him. Almost accepting Christ as Savior still results in dying without Christ and spending an eternity in hell. Come to think of it, I don’t think I care for the word almost – how about you?

What to do:

✞ Don’t almost get saved. Do it today.

SINGING TO THE END DECEMBER 30

Bible Reading: Acts 27:9-24 Key Verse: verse 22-“And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no

loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.” Key Words: Be of good cheer

Paul appealed to Agrippa to be allowed to go to Rome to present his case to

Caesar only to find himself on a ship in the midst of a typhoon, and the ship is falling

apart. Paul simply went from one storm in life to another. He was stoned, beaten, imprisoned, run out of town, and now he is about to be shipwrecked. The thing that amazes me is that he is unfazed by it all. He is content on finishing his course no matter what the course of life may bring. Paul was a man who had the attitude of not getting too high or too low. He is a perfect picture of the phrase, “Steady as he goes.” "Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage, sending a song into the air; the next second he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over. "The problem began when his owner decided to clean his cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in to suck up the seeds and feathers at the bottom of the cage when the nearby telephone rang. Instinctively she turned to pick it up. She had barely said hello when--ssswwwwwpppppp! Chippie got sucked in. She gasped, let the phone drop, and switched off the vacuum. With her heart in her mouth, she unzipped the bag. "There was Chippie--alive but stunned--covered with heavy gray dust. She grabbed him and rushed to the bathtub, turned on the faucet full blast, and held Chippie under a torrent of ice-cold water, power washing him clean. Then it dawned on her that Chippie was soaking wet and shivering. So she did what any compassionate pet owner would do: she snatched up the hair dryer and blasted him with hot air. “Poor Chippie never knew what hit him. “A few days after the trauma, the reporter who’d initially written about the event contacted Chippie’s owner to see how the bird was recovering. ‘Well, yes,’ she replied, ‘But he doesn’t sing much anymore – he just sits and stares.’ "It's not hard to see why. Sucked in, washed up, and blown over! It's enough to steal the song from the stoutest heart."

But all the storms in Paul’s life didn’t steal the song from his heart; he kept singing the praises of Jesus to the very end.

What to do:

✞ Sing the praises of Jesus to the very end.

TEACHING JESUS DECEMBER 31

Bible Reading: Acts 28:11-31 Key Verse: verse 31-“Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which

concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” Key Words: teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ

As the book of Acts comes to an end, we find Paul under house arrest

teaching about Jesus Christ. As I think of Paul I am reminded that people couldn’t stop him from preaching

Christ – storms couldn’t stop him, prison couldn’t stop him. No wonder Paul said in Colossians 3:4a, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear,” Paul simply kept “teaching those things that concern Jesus Christ,” for that’s what will last through the annals of time.

Life is a matter of building. Each of us has the opportunity to build something - a secure family, a good reputation, a career, a relationship with God. But some of those things can disappear almost overnight due to financial losses, natural disasters and other unforeseen difficulties.

What are we to do? Daniel Webster offered excellent advice, saying, "If we work on marble it will perish. If we work on brass, time will efface it. If we rear temples, they will crumble to dust. But if we work on men's immortal minds, if we imbue them with high principles, with just fear of God and love of their fellow-men, we engrave on those tablets something which time cannot efface, and which will brighten and brighten to all eternity.”

What to do:

✞ Teach lasting things – teach Jesus.

I deeply appreciate the help of

Laurie Blankenship

Trisha Bookout

Kathy Endicott

Cathy Fortenberry

Sandy Lancaster

Cathy Lang

Marie Moore

Mary Parsons

John and Tascha Piatt

Reba Pontbriand

And my lovely wife, Linda

Without God using these people to help this devotional would not have been possible.

Dr. Mike Rouse