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Acts Reading Plan | Week 11 | Day 1
Prayer
As you come to spend time with Jesus, calm your mind and body until you feel fully present. In John 17:17, Jesus prays for us, saying, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” Thank God for his truth today, truth that helps us to see things as they really are and so changes us to become more like Him.
Bible Reading: Acts 14:1-7
Read these verses three times slowly.
At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, where they continued to preach the gospel.
Reflection & Questions
In today’s reading we see a sad, yet familiar, battle for the hearts and minds of people. There are gospel-truth-tellers (Paul and Barnabas) and there are the poisoners (the Jews who refused to believe). Luke tells us that “the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.” Even when the gospel was confirmed with miracles still some “refused to believe”! The fact is that the same division occurs today. As the gospel is declared, some will come to Jesus with joy and others will walk away. Just because truth is truth, doesn’t mean hearts will accept it. While this is a sad reality, it will help take the pressure off us in sharing the gospel. Our role in sharing the gospel with others isn’t to convince them, it is to present it faithfully.
- Why do you think some accept the gospel and others reject it?
- What are some ways (in words and actions) that you can be a faithful ambassador of the gospel to your ONE this week?
Prayer
Pray for your ONE and pray that you would be able to be a faithful ambassador of the gospel to them.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
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Questions?
Ed Applegate
