Monday, April 30th: 2 Samuel 16-18, Acts 9 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 2 Samuel 16-18, Acts 9

I've always been amazed by the story of Saul's conversion.  It does make me wonder a bit exactly how much free will we actually have when it comes to our faith. 

The Bible is clear that we are spiritually dead.  Spiritually dead people are not capable of resurrecting themselves.

From this account it seems that Saul was compelled to believe.

From GotQuestions......
Many people receive Christ in a life-changing, instantaneous experience, although many others describe their conversion as more of a gradual understanding of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But both types of experiences have several things in common. First, salvation is of the Lord, by His will and according to His plan and purpose (Acts 22:14). As He does one way or another to each of us, Jesus made it clear to Saul that he had gone his own way for long enough. Now he was to become an instrument in the hands of the Master to do His will as He had foreordained it.

Second, the response of both Saul and all those who are redeemed by Christ is the same: “What do you want me to do?” Like Saul, we do not bargain, negotiate, question, or come halfway. The response of the redeemed is obedience. When God truly touches our hearts, our only response can be, “Lord, may your will be done and may you use me to do it.” Such was the experience of Saul on the Damascus Road.

Interesting to consider!

Saturday, April 28th: 2 Samuel 13-15; Acts 8 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 2 Samuel 13-15; Acts 8

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”


Acts 8:1b, 4 A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.....But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.
God can use anything to accomplish His purpose.

Anything!

In our passage today, we see that He used persecution to fulfill Acts 1:8.  We don't know if the disciples would've spread throughout Judea and Samaria on their own or not.  But God sure jumpstarts that here.

God can use anything.  And He will always be the victor.  I'm sure Satan thought he was winning by persecuting the Jerusalem church, but it ended up backfiring in a big way.

Nothing can thwart the purposes of God.


Monday's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Samuel 16-18, Acts 9

Friday, April 27th: 2 Samuel 10-12; Acts 7 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 2 Samuel 10-12; Acts 7

“As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.” - ‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭7:59-60‬

Even in his death, Stephen glorified God. He perfectly exemplified “love your neighbour as yourself” in that moment. As he was being stoned for his faith, he asked God to save his accusers.

That is a bold, loving, Christ-like faith. We need to be like Stephen. We need to be living for God, and God alone. We need to pray for those who hurt us, and ask God to forgive them. We need to put our pride aside, and remember that we too are sinners, and we too have hurt people, and we too are no better than the ones who hurt us.

We need to love so boldly that we would pray for our accusers, our enemies, and all who hurt us. We need to live like Jesus, and do everything for His glory. 

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Samuel 13-15; Acts 8

Thursday, April 26th: 1 Chronicles 16 - 18, Acts 6 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Chronicles 16-18, Acts 6

Acts 6: 10-12
But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. [11] Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” [12] So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin

The leaders of the people at the time couldn't come up with a valid argument against what Stephen was talking about, so they lied about what Stephen had said and brought him before council.

The lesson here for me is to remember that if I stay true to God throughout trials, I will win in the end by being with Him in Heaven. I may have unfair things done to me (or may do unfair things to others), but in the end God will see the truth and reward justly.


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Samuel 10-12, Acts 7

Wednesday, April 25th: 1 Chronicles 13-15, Acts 5

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Chronicles 13-15, Acts 5

Our OT passage today shows us that we can do the right thing, and still do it wrong!

David wanted to do the right thing - he wanted to bring the Ark back.  But he assumed he knew how to do it.  He didn't ask God.  He thought he knew best.  And the penalty was death.

At first David was angry.  The Bible doesn't specifically say who he was angry with - himself or God.  Our tendency is to blame someone other than ourselves, so it seems like it was likely he was angry with God.  Here he was trying to do the right thing and God responds in wrath?!

But we are mere humans.  And we don't get to tell God what to do or how to do it.  We don't get to decide what the right thing is to do.  God does.  And His opinion is the only one that matters.

Thankfully, in chapter 15 David gets it right.  He admits his sin, and he makes sure that this time, he does it God's way.

I want to remember that it always pays to do it God's way the first time!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:   1 Chronicles 16-18, Acts 6

Tuesday, April 24th: 2 Samuel 7-9, Acts 4 ~ Danae

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 2 Samuel 7-9, Acts 4

Acts 4:13-
When they saw the courage of Peter & John & realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished & they took note that these men had been with Jesus

God can use us wherever we are, in whatever stage of life we’re in & whether we feel qualified or not. God is asking that we be willing & he will make the way for his work to be done.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Chronicles 13-15, Acts 5

Monday, April 23: 1 Chronicles 10-12, Acts 3 by Pamela

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Chronicles 10-12, Acts 3

The first thing that really stood out for me was:
13 So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord. He failed to obey the Lord’s command, and he even consulted a medium 14 instead of asking the Lord for guidance. So the Lord killed him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

"The Lord Killed him" other translations say "The Lord put him to death" or "therefor he slew him"

We had just read that Saul asked his armour bearer to kill him and when he wouldn't, Saul killed himself. However, this conclusion to chapter 10 reminds us that it was in God's plan for Saul to die because of his disobedience. God allowed Saul to die. God has perfect timing for the end of someone's life and also for the sparing of someone's life.

In the NT, this passage stood out:

16 “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.

Through faith, we are healed. Healed from our sin. Healed from our hurt. Healed from our inadequacy. Healed from our imperfection. We are crippled in God's sight and yet through our faith in Jesus we are made perfect and blameless.

What a comfort to know God has our life in His hand and through faith we are healed and called into glory despite our crippled lives.


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Samuel 7-9, Acts 4

Saturday, April 21st: 2 Samuel 4-6; Acts 2 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 2 Samuel 4-6; Acts 2

Acts 2:21 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
This verse alone refutes the idea of universalism (that everyone will be saved).  Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Everyone is offered the gift of salvation.  Everyone is welcome.  But not everyone will call on the name of the Lord, and so not everyone will be saved.

Matthew 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Everyone is invited, but there is only one way - Jesus.

Monday's Bible In a Year Passage:  1 Chronicles 10-12, Acts 3

Friday, April 20th: 2 Samuel 1-3; Acts 1 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 2 Samuel 1-3; Acts 1

““Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”” - Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭1:11‬

Someday He will return

We all go through tough seasons in life, which can make it hard to remain hopeful in Jesus. But we need to remember that He will come back for His children. I find when I’m going through tough times, it’s really easy to ask God “why”. But I need to remain hopeful, and trust that one day He will come back for me. And on that day, every tear will be washed away, and every heartache will be removed, because we will be in endless paradise with the One who love us. I can’t wait to spend the rest of eternity with my Saviour.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Samuel 4-6; Acts 2

Thursday, April 19th: 1 Samuel 30-31, Luke 24 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Samuel 30-31, Luke 24

1 Samuel 30:6
David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

David's men felt that David had let them down, and it bothered David that his men felt this way. It was a time of great stress for David, and as he was feeling this way he turned to God, and he found great strength.

How do I handle stress or pressure? Do I turn to God first, or feel sorry for myself first? David was under great pressure from his men, and he turned to God for strength, and God helped him!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luke 24:51
While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

What an incredible ending to this part of Jesus life! He died and rose from the dead, and then went up to Heaven, and is now there waiting and hoping that we join Him!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  2 Samuel 1-3, Acts 1