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David Chose to Trust God
Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.” Psalm 16:1-2, NIV David asked God to preserve Him. Perhaps he went through a very difficult situation that threatened his safety and security. Maybe, David was in trouble. But despite what he felt, he still put his confidence in the Lord. He chose to trust him. A Christian commentator named John Trapp even said, “This was a most powerful plea, for to trust God is the highest honour we can do him, it is to set the crown upon…
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The Man Was Healed Not Because Of His Own Effort, But Because He Listened And Kept His Faith
In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. Acts 14:8-10, NIV There was this man who knew how it felt like to lack something. Perhaps, all throughout his life, he was looking for hope and healing. And here comes Paul, trying to present him the possible answers to his prayers. He listened to his message and received the hope…
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The Lord Is Close To The Brokenhearted
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalms 34:18, NIV Sometimes, it’s so easy for people to say, ‘move on.’ It sounds like a very simple step that a wounded person can do. But the reality is, it’s a hard pill to swallow. You will never know what it feels like not until you go through the same pain. It’s so difficult to see a bright future when your heart is still aching. But the good thing is God’s word is there to remind us that we have a companion along the journey. If you are in so much pain right now…
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Learn To Let Go Of The Bad Things And Allow The Holy Spirit To Move
So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13: 51-52, NIV When Paul and Barnabas went to Pisidian Antioch, a great number of people followed them after they shared about Jesus. The word spread all throughout the region, but the Jewish leaders tried to persecute them. And so, Paul and Barnabas shook the dust of their feet as a warning to them. After that, they went to another place. Jesus also commanded His disciples to do the same thing when He sent out His twelve disciples. In Matthew…
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Seek God’s Wisdom Above All Else
Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. Proverbs 23:12, NIV We are somehow living in a world where people tend to feel entitled to the things that they have or the knowledge that they gained. And because of this, they rely so much on what they learned rather than listening to trusted and wise people. We may sometimes think that we have already gone through enough experiences in life and that we don’t need other people to instruct and guide us, but this verse simply reminds us to seek wise counsel. There are still so many things that we need to learn, and other people…
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Continue In The Grace Of God
When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. Acts 13:43, NIV When Paul and Barnabas shared the word of God with the people, they urged them to continue in God’s grace. This is a powerful reminder for us, especially as we grow along the journey. When we get to know Him even more, it’s important to remember the grace of God because it will keep us humble and serve as our foundation. After all, we are saved not because of our efforts and strength but…
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Listen Not To Answer But To Understand Other People
To answer before listening— that is folly and shame. Proverbs 18:13, NIV Sometimes, it’s easier to speak than to listen. When we are at the peak of our emotions, we can’t help but find a way to express and release them through our words. But this verse in Proverbs simply reminds us to pause and choose to listen even if it’s hard. Sometimes, it takes dying on the inside. You need to hold back the things that deeply disturb you in order for the other person to feel heard and respected. This is not an easy thing to do. Imagine, you need to constantly remind yourself not to speak back…
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We Are Not Only Forgiven, But We Are Also Justified In Him
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. Acts 13: 38-39, NIV We are forgiven not because of the good things we did and the price we paid. But it’s all because of Jesus. This forgiveness wasn’t just paid out of convenience, but it was birthed out of suffering. The man who loved us died on the cross to save us. This is a hard pill to swallow, especially when you are the kind of…
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Fulfilling God’s Purpose
Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. Acts 13:36, NIV This verse was part of what Paul preached to the people in Pisidian Antioch. He highlighted how Jesus fulfilled the promise of God to His people, and that He was raised to life. Then, he mentioned about David who was buried and whose body decayed, after he had served God’s purpose in His own generation. There are two things that we can learn from this part of the scripture. First, God planted a purpose in David’s heart. He didn’t just create him for…
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God is a Promise-Keeper
From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. Acts 13:23, NIV Paul was preaching about the gospel to the people in Pisidian Antioch. He started by sharing the story of the Israelites and how God gave Him His promise. And it was Jesus, the savior of the world. In Acts 13:23, Paul emphasized that sending Jesus Christ here on earth was a promise fulfilled by God. He gave His only begotten Son to save and set us free. That’s who He is. The Israelites were waiting for the Messiah to come, and it may have taken a long time, but God still fulfilled…
