June 22 | Acts 22:6-16

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DAILY READING

Acts 22:6-16

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REFLECTION

What is Your Story?

by Mary Alice McGinnis

What part of Paul’s story do you relate to? His story is a little different than the prodigal son who took his inheritance and squandered it in wild living. Saul (who became Paul) was very zealous for God. He was in the inner circle of the religious elite. In his pride he vehemently opposed, threatened, imprisoned and even killed those who followed Jesus.

In today’s reading, Paul retells the story of his encounter with Jesus from his own perspective. In Jerusalem, he had been attacked by a group of Jews and was nearly beaten to death. He was arrested by the Romans and Paul asked that he be allowed to speak to the crowd.

Paul tells them his story, how he too had been zealous for the Lord and was opposed to those who followed Jesus.

He levels the playing field, basically saying, “I was just like you!”

Paul tells the crowd that when he found himself confronted with Jesus, he was blinded, humbled and then commissioned.

The words of Ananias are beautiful: “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from His mouth.”

It begs the question, why did God choose Paul? He was persecuting those who loved Jesus and even killing some of them. Yet God CHOSE him. Not for what he had done nor for what he was going to do, but to show what God was doing!! This verse says God chose him for three reasons.

• To know His will. Saul, a man who thought he KNEW the Lord God and His will, had to be struck blind. He had to be humble and confronted with the TRUTH of who Jesus Christ was. Only then could God reveal His true will. Where in your life have you seen God blind you (figuratively) so that you could see? Maybe God is using some circumstance in your life right now to open your eyes to His will.

• To see the Righteous One. God chose to reveal His risen Son, Jesus Christ, to a man who had been vehemently opposing Him. How is God’s Righteous One, Jesus, being revealed to you? Where has He shown up in your life in ways you cannot explain? How did He or is He now, pointing you to Himself?

• To hear words from His mouth. Jesus spoke to Saul. No one else understood. How has God revealed Himself to you? Even now God is speaking to each of us through His inspired Word – the Bible. Have you ever considered why the creator of the Universe would care enough to talk to you?

Did you know that Paul tells this story at least four times in the New Testament?

• Here in Acts 22: Telling the story to persuade the Jews.

• Acts 26: Telling the story to persuade the Gentiles.

• Philippians 3: Telling the story for theological understanding.

• 1 Timothy 1: Telling the story to give encouragement.

Next Ananias says: "You will be His witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for?"

Jesus confronted Saul on the road to Damascus to invite Him into His story. He changed him, and yet he never forgot the grace of the Lord Jesus and how undeserving he was. Paul joyfully retells his story over and over because he knows it is a story of the relentless kindness of our God who calls the wayward back to Himself. Paul lived the rest of his life dedicated to telling of all the things he had seen and heard.

Jesus is inviting you into His story too. He wants to use you as a witness to tell of the thing He has done and IS doing in your life.

So now, what are you waiting for? 

PRAYER

Lord, forgive me when my pride makes me feel like I have all the right answers. Forgive me when I look down on others. Thank you for the times in my life when in my spiritual blindness, You have humbled me. Remind me again and again that we are all on the same level playing field, in need of a Savior. Help me to be lead with a heart of humility and compassion, knowing that I too am a wayward, fallen sinner in need of Your grace every day. Thank you for choosing me and for inviting me into Your story. Let me never grow tired of telling Your story and all the things You have done for me.

June 21 | Psalm 16:5-11

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DAILY READING

Psalm 16:5-11

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REFLECTION

God is for Us, So We Will Never See Decay

by: David Thompson

The theme of this psalm is the joys and benefits of a life lived in companionship with God. We enjoy these benefits now and eternally. It is funny how many times today we make plans and begin to carry them out and then ask God to bless them. That is what we see here in this passage. Instead we should seek God's plan and pray for God's blessing before we begin.

This morning I was asked to take part in a stakeholders' meeting about a plan that Festa, an organization started by a person in our church, Kim Emch. They feed kids throughout the summer and provide English teaching through the fall, winter and spring. Kim and her organization are wanting to expand the reach of the organization to include many thousands of people. This plan came with a lot of consideration and prayer. It will cost money, but the results could be tremendous. I wish Festa good luck as they follow God's leading in this task.

No matter what our plans we can be sure not to be shaken if we keep God at the center of the plan. Then when hard times come and even some failure (Matthew 5:45), we can be sure that the Lord knows and will help us avoid hopelessness as the unbeliever might feel.

This psalm closes with what is called a messianic ending because it is quoted in the New Testament. Specifically a parallel to the Parable of the Prodigal Son can be seen in David's statement about not being left in the grave. Like the Prodigal Son, we may be dead once (or considered to be dead), but we will be alive again (see Acts 2:25-28, 31: 13:35-37). In those verses we see that Christ was dead, but only for three days.

PRAYER

God, thank you for giving us such a reassuring passage. Thank you for being concerned about our endeavors. We also must thank you for creating for us a way to be released from the grave as you showed with your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen

June 20 | Ephesians 5:8-14

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DAILY READING

Ephesians 5:8-14

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REFLECTION

Darkness Meets Light

by Judy Webb

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)

Have you ever been afraid of the dark? Maybe as a child you needed the comfort of a nightlight. Just that little bit of light in your room to provide a sense of safety and security. That feeling of unknown enemies just waiting in the dark corners, or in closets, or under the bed unnerved us. Then we grew up and no longer need the security a small light provides. We didn’t fear what lay under the bed; there were plenty of grown-up concerns or thoughts to lose sleep over.

As Christians, we need not fear these things. We don’t need be afraid of the dark because we know that Jesus overcame the darkness. And we can step out of the shadows and into the light with confidence. Only when we emerge from the dark corners of our sinful existence, do we see clearly.

"And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.” (Genesis 1:3-4)

When you read Ephesians 8:5, did it remind you of the day or season when you recognized how dark and foreboding your life was? Can you recall how different everything seemed once God’s light shone on all things around you? There was a time I was hanging on for dear life, at the end of my rope, trapped in darkness of my own doing. I did the only thing left for me to do. I called out to God for help, for rescue from a life of darkness and hopelessness. The rest is history. From that moment on, everything changed. Little by little each day, the clouds lifted, and the sun/Son showed bright all around me.

“Find out what pleases the LORD.” (Ephesians 5:10)

There is much talk these days about the darkness surrounding us, and we don’t know what to do about it. As Christians who have been saved, we only need to reflect on our own salvation, on our Savior, and we know what to do. “…To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with the LORD.” (Micah 6:8)

PRAYER

Dear Jesus,

Thank you so much for your mercy and grace, but mostly for Salvation. Teach me daily, the power of your Word in my life and show me how to share it every day. Amen.