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For I know the plans I have for you,declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Tuesday, September 3, 2024
Today's Passage : Today's Passage :Saul (Paul) in Jerusalem Bible Verse:Acts 9:26-31 (ESV) "And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. " Message:
After his conversion in Damascus, Saul returns to Jerusalem. Naturally the Christians of Jerusalem fear him; they might hear him preach the Gospel, but they are not convinced. It could easily be a ruse, to infiltrate their number in order to increase his arrest record.
He is sponsored by a man named Barnabas, however, and the apostles take him in. And his actions speak louder than Barnabas’ words. He preaches so avidly that he soon finds himself in the crosshairs of the anti-Christians; the apostles have to hustle him out of town. First he goes to Caesarea, the capital of the Roman prefect (Pontius Pilate), and then to his birthplace, Tarsus, in eastern Anatolia (Turkey).
Monkeys battling snails from Illuminated Hymnal
We have not really met Barnabas at this point; he will appear prominently in later chapters. Christianity, a new and growing organization, has attracted some new men of great talent and energy.
The twelve apostles show their humility (and intelligence) in allowing new leaders to arise; the founders do not seek to hold all of the power to themselves, but freely encourage these new men to assume leadership. We have already seen them make seven Greek Jews the first deacons of the church in Jerusalem; we will soon see how both Barnabas and Saul (Paul) are elevated in status. The apostles are not jealous of their leadership role.
We should remember this lesson and bring it into our lives. Christianity is not about gaining power and prestige within a church. Disputes over who should run things and who should have a more prestigious title are antithetical to the tenets of Christianity. We should serve Christ, not our pride; for the important point is to preach the Gospel and show God’s Holy Spirit through following his commandments of humility and love. If we truly believe, we will always act to show that we expect our reward in heaven, not on earth.
Meditation : Prayer : Oh God Almighty, send me Your light and truth, to keep this day and all the days of my life. And may Your mighty hand protect me, and all my brothers and sisters who have joined me in prayer this day, blessing our homes and our lives.........Amen |
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