SCRIPTURE: Acts 10:24-48 OBSERVATION: This passage reveals the fulfillment of God’s plan from the beginning, to bless all nations (Genesis 12:1-3). God does not have favourites. He chose Israel as a means to an end, to bless all nations. The laws re. clean and unclean were not intended to separate people from each other, but to separate…
Category: daily meditations
July 13 — Acts 10:1-23a
SCRIPTURE: Acts 10:1-23a OBSERVATION: Here we see the Lord at work on both sides of evangelism, preparing both the witness and the one being witnessed to. Cornelius is good soil (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23), open and receptive to God. Peter’s heart still needs to be opened more, to be released from the constraints of the old covenant code. The…
July 12 — Acts 9:32-43
SCRIPTURE: Acts 9:32-43 OBSERVATION: The healing, resurrecting power of Jesus is still at work. These stories are similar to one’s in Jesus’ life. The result of these miracles is that many people put their faith in Jesus as Messiah. Peter makes it look so easy, so normal. Is it, should it be? Some Christ-followers see this…
July 11 — Acts 9:19b-31
SCRIPTURE: Acts 9:19b-31 OBSERVATION: Saul’s transformation from fierce enemy of Christ to fearless witness for Christ was shocking to both Jews and Christians. No doubt Barnabas’ support was encouraging for him. His bold and powerful message challenged and convinced many, an evidence of the Spirit of Christ at work. When the Spirit takes hold of someone…
July 10 — Acts 9:1-19a
SCRIPTURE: Acts 9:1-19a OBSERVATION: Once again we see the Lord at work in the world, and bringing His servants into the process. The Lord reveals Himself in a variety of ways, and not always through the church, the Bible. He is the message and the messenger (the Word of God), and He uses a variety of…
July 9 — Acts 8:26-40
SCRIPTURE: Acts 8:26-40 OBSERVATION: The Lord directs Philip by an angel and by His Spirit to this receptive seeker. Philip does not create an evangelistic moment, he joins in where the Lord is already at work. It is interesting that Philip proceeds with baptism directly, it would take a much longer ecclesiastical process today (classes, approval,…
July 8 — Acts 8:9-25
SCRIPTURE: Acts 8:9-25 OBSERVATION: An interesting story about a “sorcerer” who accepts Jesus as Saviour and Lord, and yet reveals that his heart is not right before God, i.e. he is still more interested in fame and fortune (how many Christians today are just like this?). What does it mean that they had not yet received the…
July 7 — Acts 8:2-8
SCRIPTURE: Acts 8:2-8 OBSERVATION: Here we see both the challenges and blessings that the early church experienced. They grieved deeply for those who died for their faith (many eventually died), they faced daily the prospect of suffering and imprisonment, and they were scattered from their homes. And yet, wherever they went, the MESSAGE (word, v.4) was…
July 6 — Acts 7:51-8:1
SCRIPTURE: Acts 7:51-8:1 OBSERVATION: Here Stephen comes to the punchline of his sermon: you claim to be defending the temple and the law, you are the ones who are disobeying it and resisting God. You can see the fruit of their spirits in what comes out of them: the religious leaders gnash their teeth, while Stephen…
July 5 — Acts 7:35-50
SCRIPTURE: Acts 7:35-50 OBSERVATION: Stephen is still defending himself against the charge of ”speaking against the holy place and against the law” (Acts 6:13). He shows that having the temple and the law are not the most important thing but humble, submissive hearts. Even Moses predicted Jesus’ coming, but the history of Israel shows how often people…