Daily Devotional for December 28, 2015
Acts 16
Scripture:
11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Observation:
“I’ve always believed in God. I’ve read the Bible.” Frank fidgeted with his soft drink.
John leaned in from across the table and said, “It’s not enough that you believe God exists and that you try to be a good person.” He then pulled a small New Testament out of his jacket and began to share verses of Scripture.
At a table nearby, a young woman wiped away a tear. When John asked Frank if he wanted Jesus to be the Lord of his life, Frank said yes. The two prayed together. Neither noticed the young woman’s head bowed or her tears flowing, but she too asked Jesus into her heart.
One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message (Acts 16:14).
As Spirit-empowered men, we should strive to be missional wherever we are. If we do our part to share the good news of Jesus whenever God gives us the opportunity, the Holy Spirit will do His part to open the hearts of those who listen and are ready to respond to God’s grace.
Application:
- Personal Application: Be Missional: Personally, Locally, Nationally, and Globally. Being personally missional means that we must speak up and tell Jesus’ story—people cannot respond to something they have not heard.
- Family Devotional: Read this chapter to your family. Ask them if anything spoke to them as you read. Talk about their answers and show them that one important aspect of this chapter is that God has chosen us to tell His story. Pray for them.
Prayer:
- Personal Prayer Focus: Ask God to help you recognize the opportunities to share His story; personally, locally, nationally, and globally.
- Family Prayer Focus: Pray that your family will have the courage to share about Jesus when the Holy Spirit directs them.
Three Year Reading Plan for Sunday, December 27 – Sunday, January 3:
- Sunday, December 27: Acts 15
- Monday, December 28: Acts 16
- Tuesday, December 29: Acts 17
- Wednesday, December 30: Acts 18
- Thursday, December 31: Acts 19
- Friday, January 1: Acts 20
- Saturday, January 2: Acts 21
- Sunday, January 3: Acts 22
—TOM GROOT is National Director of Men’s Ministry and Christian Education. Connect with Tom on Facebook or Twitter @TomGrootJr.
Portions of this devotional are adapted from God’s Word for Today, November 21, 2013.
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