13th. November. 2020. Daily Devotion.
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: ‘Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is “the stone you builders rejected which has become the cornerstone”
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.’
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. Acts 4:8-14
In the aftermath of Pentecost and the initial preaching of the Apostles in Jerusalem, there was an outpouring of extraordinary events. Jesus’ closest followers, fishermen and labourers for the most part, began humbling the Sanhedrin with their knowledge of scripture and powerful public speaking. These were not human accomplishments, but accomplishments of the Holy Spirit.
The book of the Acts of the Apostles tells of the extraordinary achievements of ordinary men and women who responded with faith to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. We may feel that there is not much that we can do to serve God with our abilities in our day. But why not? We serve the same God, and the same Holy Spirit inspires us, and the same Jesus Christ calls us. Allow them scope within your life to inspire you with love and grace. Who knows but that a word or action on your part will bring blessing, peace, or healing to someone whom you encounter today?
Prayer of Thérèse of Lisieux
O my God! I offer Thee all my actions of this day for the intentions and for the glory of Christ Jesus. I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by uniting them to His infinite merits; and I wish to make reparation for my sins by casting them into the furnace of His Merciful Love.
O my God! I ask of Thee for myself and for those whom I hold dear, the grace to fulfil perfectly Thy Holy Will, to accept for love of Thee the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one day be united together in heaven for all Eternity. Amen.
For Increase in Wisdom
Dear God, I pray that I may proceed with boldness in the few things I know as a certainty, especially that my eternal salvation can come only from Christ Jesus; that He is my Lord and Saviour; and that through my repentance of sin and my faith in Him, I will be saved. May I never shrink from your Great Commission, oh Lord, to share the Gospel with the world, so that those with ears to hear it might join me in salvation; for this is your express command to me, and to all Christians.
But also, I pray that my mind may be open and that I may always have an attitude of seeking and learning, for I realize that on many matters I could be wrong and not know it; or there may be wisdom that I do not even realize exists, awaiting discovery, as I live and grow in my walk with you. Give me grace through your Holy Spirit always to seek wisdom, to admit where I have been mistaken, even in attitudes I have held my entire life. Make me fresh every day in your word, Holy God; and let the light of your wisdom shine throughout the world, that we all may grow in our knowledge and love of you, throughout our lives. Amen.
Meditation
“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.” ~ A. W. Tozer, from The Pursuit of God
Dedication
Oh Heavenly Father, in whom I live and move and have my being, I humbly pray you so to guide and govern me by your Holy Spirit, that in all the joys, occupations, and cares of this day I may never forget you, but remember that I am ever walking in your sight. In Christ’s name, I pray, Amen
