KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Chapters: Acts 17
Message: A Partaker of Christ’s Sufferings
Hello My Friend,
Did you ever notice how the sinful world loves to cry out things like freedom of speech and choice? Oh yes, they want everyone to be free to live their lives the way they want, and flaunt it for all the world to see. That is, unless you disagree with them. Tell them that what they are doing is sinful and you are now the enemy, and it is time for war until you agree. That is the attitude of the extreme liberal, make love, not war crowd, but they are the first to make war with those who disagree with them, Christian or not, and let me tell you, much of the world does not agree with them either. As Christians, we are often are targeted because of our faith. Why? Jesus brings conviction, and they refuse to feel guilty over what they believe in, so, rather than admit their wrongdoing they go after the ones who make them feel guilty. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” – I Peter 4:12-14.
While being a Christian comes with lots of rewards, it also comes with some challenges, out of all the religions out there, the most rejected are those who preach Christ. Yes, there is stereotyping and persecution with Jews and Muslims, but not like those who stand by Christ. Paul and Silas saw first hand in Greece, not only that there were Jesus haters out there, there was also a group of Jews following them, causing havoc wherever they went.
“Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.” – Acts 17:1-7.
“took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort,” Baser; Vulgar. These people were so vulgar that even if they believed they feared being mocked and shamed in public. This was the challenge that Paul and Silas dealt with in every town in Greece, by the time they got to a new town the unbelieving Jews were already there causing havoc. The challenge was getting the truth to those who wanted to hear it. Envy; To grudge; to withhold maliciously. Did you ever notice that Jesus haters seem to find each other and are not the nicest people? The world can care less if we know of and receive Christ, what they despise is being told what they are doing is sin. Sadly, many side with them, but no matter how many try to stop the truth from being preached, they cannot. Paul and Silas were encouraged to leave Thessalonica before things really got out of hand, they left in the night and found themselves in Berea, and went right back to preaching the Gospel, and the people received them gladly, when who should appear, the troublemakers from Thessalonica, and were told to leave.
“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.” – Acts 17:10-13.
“they came thither also, and stirred up the people.” You have seen them, the same idiotic protesters, who are quick to find the camera and even more idiotic people willing to make sure they are seen. You want to see a town go crazy and become extremely violent? Preach Jesus. It is sad, but even today we are criticized, ridiculed, and even hurt by the very people who cry peace, all because we talk about Jesus. They will even tell us we are free to believe what we want, but keep it to ourselves unless we want to face the consequences. Let me tell you, God’s Word is alive, and just as powerful as God, as we approach the end times it is going to be harder and harder to find souls willing to receive Christ, but we cannot stop until Jesus returns. “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:11,12.
Still traveling through Greece, Paul witnessed many things, the Epicureans believed there was no God, and that the world happened of mere chance, and that the soul and body died together. Sound familiar? This is similar to evolution. The Stoics believed that matter was eternal and that all things were governed by fate, that virtue and godliness was its own sufficient reward, and vice its own sufficient punishment. This is similar to Buddhist beliefs. The Athenians prided themselves on their mythology, gods and goddesses, they had statutes everywhere depicting these images. Paul arrives in Athens, while waiting for Silas, he was stirred by the Holy Spirit to speak to them because he saw a sign that was addressed to the unknown God. They took him up to Areopagus (Mars Hill), which was the bench on which a judge and his associates sit for administering justice, famous for the justice and impartiality of its decisions. “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. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)” – Acts 17:18,21.
“but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)” You know, the problem is not that the majority of people do not believe in a sovereign power, it is that people want to see proof of God’s existence, and while they play their games, they fail to realize that God is everywhere, but He is not in the form of an object, an animal, or planet, He is in the form of man, one man, Jesus Christ. To know the only living God we cannot find Him in a statue or image made by man nor in objects created by God. He is in every believer. Paul continues to explain this.
“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.” – Acts 17:24-32.
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at;” The question often comes up as to why God was only God to the Jews, He was never just God to the Jews, He is God to all who believe, He chose the Jews because of the promise He made to Abraham, to show the rest of the world that there is only One Living God. And at that time God was okay with the ignorance of the rest of the world, but now that Jesus came and died for all it is time that everyone know and understand that He is the only way to God and salvation, regardless of what they choose to believe. Jesus is everywhere, anyone can find Him, if they are willing, the problem comes from pride, and their unwillingness to accept that they are, in fact, a sinner. Let me tell you, none of us are perfect, and those who think they are will have a huge awakening when they see Jesus, we are prefect in Christ, not ourselves. “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” – Hebrews 13:20-21.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” – Acts 17:31.
Today’s Prayer: God, When I gave my heart to You, I made the willful choice to no longer conform to the trends and philosophies of this world, but seek Your truths so that I could see it through the eyes of Christ. We are put to the test daily in deciding what is truth and what is error. Sharpen our minds, teach us, and grant us the courage we need to readily know truth from lies, so that we may boldly stand by Christ, and are fearless in saying so. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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