The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 756

 

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 756

Today’s Kick Start! – (CSB) Philippians 1 12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ.

Personal Obedience—Walk in the Spirit and you will not carry out the deeds of the flesh.

Acts 9 19bSaul was with the disciples in Damascus for some time. 20 Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.” 21 All who heard him were astounded and said, “Isn’t this the man in Jerusalem who was causing havoc for those who called on this name and came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?”  22 But Saul grew stronger and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.23 After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plot. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall.

JESUS CHRIST: He IS the same Yesterday, He IS the same Today, He IS God Forever!

Roughly two years have passed since Jesus died and rose again for the sin of the world. Saul for these two years has persecuted those who believed in Jesus. Their confession of faith in the Messiah as Savior was enough to send many of these saints to death and imprisonment. All at the leading hands of Saul of Tarsus. The Messiah Jesus fulfills the prophesy of Isaiah – see Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 and the Psalm of David; Psalm 22.

 Humanly we might assume that once Saul is converted to Christ that this persecution would cease as he was the ring leader, but be it as it is, this angered the Jews and Sanhedrin council even more. Unlike the insurrectionists of the past, Jesus was not going to go away; in fact, just the opposite is happening. High ranking men in Judaism were being saved. Men like Nicodemus, a leader in Judaism, After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews.

 This persecution of the children of God was now directed at the leader of persecution. Their own leader, Saul. It did not take long for these religious leaders to place a conviction of death on Saul who was once a friend. Someone whom they had trusted, whom they drank and dined with and also agreed to murder and persecute those who were Christ followers. From the number one friend to the number one enemy, who now escapes their hands of death through a hole in the wall.

 Did this disrupt God’s plan for Saul; no! this was God’s plan: Jesus said to Ananias; Acts 9 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” A thought about the word that Jesus uses in this passage and many others; ‘children’.

 We are either; children of God, or we are children of our father the devil, see John 8 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (Murder and persecution is all the devil understands) So I ask you—What do you understand?

 You know whose side you are on. You are either a child of God by personal faith in Christ, or you are a child of the devil because your personal faith is in the counterfeit religions of the world.

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