KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Friday, November 23, 2018
Chapters: Acts 13-14
Message: Serving The Living God
Hello My Friend,
There use to be a time when a person said that they were a Christian that it meant something, even those who were of the world knew if they said they were a Christian they could trust them to work for them. Today, that is not the case, in fact, Christians are frowned upon, and while some just hate us because we follow the Bible as truth, the majority of them do because they have been hurt by someone who said they were a Christian. You see, many who say they are a Christian are not, and since the world has no idea who a true Christian is, they assume all are the same. Let me tell you, saying you are a Christian does not make you one, accepting Jesus Christ as your Saviour does that, but a true Christian lives their lives through Christ.
“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” – I Peter 2:11-16.
Fake Christians have been around since God created life itself, even some of the angels thought themselves to be above God and tried to mimic Him in an effort to overtake Him. Sooner or later all who use God’s or Jesus’s name for their own personal gain will find out the hard way that there is only One Living God, and they will suffer for it. Paul paired up with Barnabas and began traveling through Greece preaching the Gospel when they came across a false prophet named Barjesus, of all names, who was actually Elymas, he sought them to know more from the Word of God in order to capture them, but God used it to His advantage.
“And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.” – Acts 13:6-12.
“Then the deputy, when he saw what was done,” It often takes another persons miraculous healing for one to see the truth about Jesus and believe in Him. That is why it is important for us to remain true Christians, in doing so we not only are able to confront those who falsely accuse us, we can be witnesses to many others. We are the example, and yes, the world hates our example because Christ shines through us, but we must keep living by faith and not become stagnant or afraid to express our faith. Yes, there are times when we have to be silent, but the Holy Spirit tells us when it is time to speak up, and as we listen to Him, we will not fear what man can do to us, and boldly proclaim that Jesus is ours. And that is exactly what Paul and Barnabas did, Paul began speaking in the synagogues, after they spoke the very Scriptures that showed Christ was in them.
“Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead: Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.” – Acts 13:26-30,38-39,46-47.
“and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life,” You see, anytime a person rejects the Gospel and seeks other means for their salvation they are judging themselves unworthy of everlasting life. Salvation really has never been about works, it has always been about faith in God, when one has faith in God and wants Him in their life they will seek redemption, that was what the works did, the sacrifices and offerings from the Law of Moses brought temporary redemption. However, Christ made redemption permanent on the cross, through the law of Moses, redemption was constantly needed, but through the law of grace redemption is permanent as He became the one and only sacrifice necessary for permanent redemption. “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” – Hebrews 9:12-14.
Something incredible happens when we start serving the living God, Christ literally shines through us and people start seeing Him in us. Unfortunately there is one downfall to that, many unknowingly want to give us the glory for saving them, when it has nothing to do with us, as we are just His messengers. When in Lystra Paul and Barnabas came across a man who was crippled, seeing his faith in Jesus he touched him and yelled out for him to stand up. The people did not give God the glory, but gave it to Paul and Barnabas, believing them to be gods, but Paul quickly stopped them, showing them they were not gods, but that it was God who healed them.
“And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.” – Acts 14:12-18.
“Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.” God, seeing the corruption of man, gave them up to their reprobate mind, but He did not give up on them all together because He did see that some would choose Him despite their sin nature. And this is why God narrowed it down to one group of people to show the entire world that there truly is only one living God that created all of them. I heard someone say that the reason the Jews were chosen was because of how sinful they were, and perhaps that is partially correct, but I believe it all started with a promise that God promised He would not break, one that started with Abraham. If we heed the words of Jesus we will see that being born into a family does not make you an heir, it is knowing who our Father is that does that. “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.” – John 8:34-40.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” – Acts 13:38-39.
Today’s Prayer: God, We do not have to go far to see there is a war against Christians, especially by those who call themselves Christians. You warned us that since we are not of the world we are going to face persecution, but You also gave us a promise that You will never leave nor forsake us. Lord, as we draw closer to Your return, lead us and guide us, protect us from the enemy, and give us the strength and courage we need to boldly proclaim our faith in You. Let us not be afraid and never stop being the example You need us to be to win a lost soul. Keep us in Your mercy and grace, and give us Your power to get through this life as we await the day we get to be with You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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