Devos 365

Acts 15:22-35 22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these re

Acts 15:1-21 I've provided a link to the reading for today as it is a little longer. Whatever you do, don't skip the Bible reading! It's the most important part. http://www.esvbible.org/Acts 15:1-21 Matthew 18:20 tells us, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Jesus joins us when we gather in community. That’s cool. But I would also suggest that we are also accompanied by our preconceived notions and desires to have things the way we want them. When two (or ten or a thousand) people come together there are going to be points of contention and disagreement about the way things should be. We all want to dwell within our own comfort zone. As Paul and Barnabas continue to minister to the people in Antioch they meet up with opposition. Some of those who have come to Christianity through Judaism are insisting that all must come to Christianity through Judaism. They are known as “Judaizers” or “The Circumcision Party” and

Acts 14:21-28 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, 26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they remained no little time with the disciples. One of the things th

Acts 14:19-20 19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. I am currently doing a study of the book of Job with one of my small groups. There you find an epic story of struggle and pain allowed by . . . well, God. Yes, Satan causes Job’s pain but God gives him permission to do s