Monday, March 3 – “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” (1 Corinthians 15:9) These are the words of Paul. He was humbled by the Lord and he stayed humble throughout the rest of his life. He humbly served. He humbly taught. He humbly wrote. And he humbly died. All for the good news of Jesus. Paul’s humility wasn’t a weakness, it was his greatest strength.
Tuesday, March 4 – “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder then all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10) “Effect” means something that is produced by an agency or cause. Grace isn’t merely something that’s given to you, for your own benefit. Grace has an effect on you, something produced in you and through you by grace. That something is who you are. Or it might be better said, who you’ll become, because of the grace of God.
Wednesday, March 5 – “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:1-2) Before we get to what Saul was doing, how about that name – “the Way”. I like it! Back to Saul. He was persecuting followers of Jesus. This is the guy that God would shoulder tap to bring the gospel to the Gentiles? He was intentionally hurting others, in the name of God, and God still used him! Think about that one today.
Thursday, March 6 – “’Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. ‘Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what to do.’” (Acts 9:5-6) Think about it, would Saul have been convinced to change his ways, if you or I approached him on the road to Damascus? God knew how to get to Saul. Notice that Jesus doesn’t mention the persecution of the followers of the Way. He introduces himself to Saul as “Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” This is personal for Jesus and it becomes personal for Saul.
Friday, March 7 – “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” (2 Corinthians 11:30) Paul teaches us that it’s only through our weakness that the glory of God can be expressed or experienced. Afterall, if you’re perfect, why would you need God? It’s this need for God, because of our weakness, that causes us to boast. Not about us, but about what God has done in us and through us. In spite of us.
Saturday, March 8 – “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.” (Acts 22:3) Paul had the heart for God and the passion for God. He just needed to have that heart and passion transformed. Paul believed that he was doing the will of God, when he was persecuting followers of the Way. Misguided hearts and passions are something with which God can work. And that’s good news!
Tuesday, March 4 – “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder then all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10) “Effect” means something that is produced by an agency or cause. Grace isn’t merely something that’s given to you, for your own benefit. Grace has an effect on you, something produced in you and through you by grace. That something is who you are. Or it might be better said, who you’ll become, because of the grace of God.
Wednesday, March 5 – “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:1-2) Before we get to what Saul was doing, how about that name – “the Way”. I like it! Back to Saul. He was persecuting followers of Jesus. This is the guy that God would shoulder tap to bring the gospel to the Gentiles? He was intentionally hurting others, in the name of God, and God still used him! Think about that one today.
Thursday, March 6 – “’Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. ‘Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what to do.’” (Acts 9:5-6) Think about it, would Saul have been convinced to change his ways, if you or I approached him on the road to Damascus? God knew how to get to Saul. Notice that Jesus doesn’t mention the persecution of the followers of the Way. He introduces himself to Saul as “Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” This is personal for Jesus and it becomes personal for Saul.
Friday, March 7 – “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” (2 Corinthians 11:30) Paul teaches us that it’s only through our weakness that the glory of God can be expressed or experienced. Afterall, if you’re perfect, why would you need God? It’s this need for God, because of our weakness, that causes us to boast. Not about us, but about what God has done in us and through us. In spite of us.
Saturday, March 8 – “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.” (Acts 22:3) Paul had the heart for God and the passion for God. He just needed to have that heart and passion transformed. Paul believed that he was doing the will of God, when he was persecuting followers of the Way. Misguided hearts and passions are something with which God can work. And that’s good news!
You try to eat right. You drink plenty of water. you exercise. don't forget your spirit - feed it!
daily devotions
