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Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:
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Acts 10

Cornelius, a devout Gentile centurion, receives a vision from God telling him to send for Peter. Meanwhile, Peter has a vision of a sheet filled with unclean animals and hears a voice telling him to eat. When Peter refuses, God responds, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” As Cornelius’s men arrive, Peter realizes the vision signifies God’s acceptance of all who fear and obey Him. Peter goes to Cornelius’s house, where Cornelius recalls his vision. Peter preaches about Jesus, emphasizing that God shows no favoritism and offers salvation to all who believe. As Peter speaks, the Holy Spirit falls on the Gentiles, enabling them to speak in tongues, astonishing the Jewish believers. Peter baptizes them, declaring that they must not be refused baptism and the forgiveness of sins.

God's salvation through Jesus Christ is available to everyone, regardless of ethnicity, culture, or background. We must not allow personal bias to hinder us from sharing God's universal message with all people. Peter’s example teaches the church to remove all limitations and boundaries from the gospel’s reach. Cornelius illustrates that good, caring people remain lost until they hear and obey the gospel call. People must learn about Jesus and the forgiveness of sins that come through Him. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit marked a unique event, forever uniting different groups as equals in the church. Our responsibility is to demonstrate this in whom we teach and baptize, as well as whom we fellowship and serve in the kingdom.

Benevolent Father, You went to great lengths to bring salvation in Jesus to Cornelius. Humble us to understand that we are Cornelius. We are Gentiles who would have no hope, regardless of our good deeds, except for the saving grace of Jesus Christ and His cleansing power. Thank You for showing no partiality and for Your willingness to welcome all who fear You and do what is right. Teach us how to be fueled by gratitude for the resurrected Christ and His grace. And please show us someone today who needs to hear that Jesus also wants to save them.

Thought Questions:

- Do you know anyone like Cornelius, who is kind and God-fearing but has not surrendered to Jesus? If so, how can you help?

- Peter was an apostle of Jesus but still had things to learn about God. What are things you are still learning about God’s will for your life?

- Why was the Holy Spirit falling on Cornelius a unique event? What was the purpose, and how does that explain why this does not happen today?

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Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:
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Acts 9

Saul, later known as Paul, continues to pursue Christians to imprison them. On his way to Damascus, a light from heaven stops him. He hears Jesus speaking, asking why Saul is persecuting Him. Blinded, Saul is led into the city to wait for instructions. Meanwhile, God instructs Ananias to visit Saul and restore his sight. Despite his fear, Ananias obeys. Saul learns that he will become an apostle to the Gentiles. After regaining his sight, he is immediately baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. Saul begins to preach boldly, prompting the Jews to seek to kill him. He escapes to Jerusalem, where Barnabas vouches for him. The chapter also recounts Peter healing Aeneas and raising Tabitha from the dead, demonstrating God’s power and inspiring many new believers in Jesus.

Saul’s story highlights the transformative power of Jesus Christ. His conversion shows that no one is beyond the call of the gospel. God often uses individuals like Ananias to fulfill His mission. We must confront our fears and seize opportunities to share God’s hope with others. It is also inspiring to see Saul immediately active in sharing his faith. Some of the greatest passion for evangelism comes from new converts. We can learn a great deal from them. Like Barnabas, we should defend and support new believers to help God’s people embrace them. Lastly, Tabitha was deeply missed and cherished for her charitable spirit. We should seek to be cherished servants among God’s people, known for “deeds of kindness and charity.”

Glorious Father, we praise Your patience and relentless pursuit of sinners. You humbled and restored Saul, as You have done with us. We are living testaments to Your grace and love. Teach us to live with gratitude and to obey Your call to share Jesus with others, even when it feels risky or uncertain. Give us the spirit of vigor and the voice of joy to express our faith like those who are new in Christ. Please create an opportunity today to tell someone that You are the Healer, the Forgiver, and You have the power even to raise the dead!

Thought Questions:

- What does Saul’s conversion tell you about God’s love? Saul committed to God out of gratitude. How powerful is gratitude in driving your faith?

- Barnabas defends Saul when others are fearful. How should you be like Barnabas when someone with a troubled past comes to Christ?

- Tabitha was treasured for her charitable deeds. When you pass from this life, how do you want to be remembered by the family of God?

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Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:
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Feel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.com

Acts 8

Saul is introduced as an aggressive persecutor of the church, dragging people from their homes to imprison them. Meanwhile, Christians flee and carry the gospel with them, and the church continues to grow. Philip, a devoted teacher, brings the teachings of the kingdom to Samaria, where many believe in Jesus and are baptized. One such man, Simon, soon forfeits his salvation by trying to purchase his right to the power of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Peter urges him to repent immediately so that he may be forgiven and restored. Later, Philip is sent to an Ethiopian eunuch who is reading the book of Isaiah alone. Philip uses the scripture to teach Jesus to the eunuch, and he is promptly baptized after believing in Jesus, which leads to much rejoicing.

Comparing the characters in this chapter will help us determine who we want to become. Believing he was right, Saul opposed the disciples and sought to hinder them. In contrast, Philip was committed to openly sharing the gospel with everyone to expand the kingdom. Aim to emulate Philip in daily purpose and joy and strive to be far less like Saul, whose misguided views of godliness led him to cruel and sinful behavior. Simon believed but then chose a path of self-interest and greed, ultimately leading to bondage once again. The eunuch sought to know the truth and was baptized, rejoicing in the salvation he found in Jesus. We must rejoice and be content, blessed and saved in Christ!

Blessed Lord, thank You for showing us how the gospel touches hearts, regardless of any attempts to hinder it. Help us to be like Philip, serving as vessels to spread the good news to those around us. Protect our hearts from selfish motives and greed so that we can demonstrate Jesus to others through our actions as much as through our message. Reveal our sins to us, and we will repent and refocus on the mission with humility. We pray to be continual seekers like the eunuch while also being ready to teach other seekers we encounter along the way.

Thought Questions:

- How can you be more attentive to how God and His Spirit want to use you to share Jesus with others, like how God used Philip?

- Is self-focus and greed ever a problem for you, like it was for Simon? How do you find joy and contentment in your life in Christ?

- Philip “preached Jesus” to the eunuch, and the eunuch sought baptism. Why did he make that connection and only rejoice afterward?