Living Faith Devotional 68
6/9 – 6/15
Jesus said, “I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness” (John 12:46 NRSV). Saul of Tarsus was a devout Pharisee who tried to stop Jesus’ church from spreading in the years shortly after the resurrected Savior’s ascension. It was as if Saul was trying to extinguish Jesus’ light in the world. His efforts included approving of those who killed the first Christian martyr named Stephen (Acts 8:1). Yet Saul’s life was transformed when he encountered the blinding light of Jesus while traveling to Damascus to arrest disciples of Christ. As he and his companions were engulfed by “a light from heaven, brighter than the sun,” Jesus’ voice came from within the light and told Saul, “I am sending you to open…eyes so that they (Jews and Gentiles) may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:13, 17-18 NRSV). A few days after his conversion a devout man of faith in Damascus named Ananias shared this message with Saul on behalf of the Lord, “the God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear his own voice; for you will be his witness to all the world of what you have seen and heard” (Acts 22:14-15 NRSV). In response to his encounter with Jesus and the Lord’s message shared through Ananias, Saul was baptized and became an apostle of Christ.
After his conversion, Saul, later known as Paul, quickly began telling people in Damascus, Jerusalem, and wherever there were listening ears, about his encounter with God’s Son, Christ Jesus. Years later the Holy Spirit sent Paul on missionary journeys to evangelize, plant churches across the Roman Empire, train disciples and leaders, and encourage believers. During the decades of his ministry Paul wrote letters that became nearly half of the documents of the New Testament of the Bible. He endured hardships, excruciating beatings, multiple imprisonments, and was eventually executed for his faith in Jesus.
Following along with the Blinding Light: Lessons from the Life of the Apostle Paul sermon series, this summer the Living Faith Devotional will guide us to read and study some of the key moments of Paul’s faith journey, ministry, as well as portions of a few of his letters, to learn from the life of the most influential Christian to have ever lived. The format of this plan is designed for you to use as much or little as you have time to use each day. Below is a guide for the daily use of this devotional:
Each Day
- Read the Daily Dose of Jesus
- Spend a few minutes in silence as you wait in the presence of the Lord
- Read the Bible verses for the day
- Answer the question(s) using a journal or notebook, talking to someone else about them, or simply think about your responses
- Listen to and/or sing a worship song or hymn
- Pray
- Live guided by the Spirit of the Lord
DAILY MESSAGE FROM JESUS:
READ Jesus’ messages from John 8:12 and John 12:44-50 to begin your time set apart to be with, encounter, and worship the living God.
SILENCE & SOLITUDE:
You are encouraged to spend a few minutes quietly alone with the Triune God (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit) after reading the verses. You may find it helpful to sit, kneel, lay down, or walk as the message rolls around in your heart and mind.
DAILY BIBLE VERSES TO READ:
Sunday – Romans 8:35-39 (nothing can separate us from God’s love)
Monday – Acts 6:1-8:3 (the first deacons are chosen, Stephen’s message & martyrdom while Saul persecutes Jesus’ Church)
Tuesday – Acts 9:1-31 (Saul’s conversion story shared by Luke in the book of Acts)
Wednesday – Galatians 1:11-24 (Saul/Paul shares part of his story in the letter to the Galatians)
Thursday – Acts 21:17-23:11 (Paul tells his story to a crowd in Jerusalem after being arrested)
Friday – Acts 26:1-29 (Paul tells a brief version of his story to King Agrippa)
Saturday – Hebrews 4:1-11 (The Sabbath theme is “stop & rest.”)
VIDEO TO WATCH:
To learn more about Saul/Paul’s conversion and the earliest years of Christianity, or to be reminded of things you already know, you are encouraged to watch The Apostle Paul: Acts 8-12 video using the link provided:
The Apostle Paul: Acts 8-12 by The Bible Project:
DAILY QUESTIONS:
You may find it helpful to read the verses a second time as you ask yourself these questions while pondering about God’s message within the verses. You may find it helpful to write your responses to the questions, or talk about them with a family member, friend, or your small group, or to simply think about them:
What is the biblical author revealing in these verses? You are encouraged to read the study notes from a Study Bible. If you don’t have a study Bible, you can borrow one from the AUMC library or find one online through www.BibleGateway.com or the Bible Gateway App.
What do the verses reveal about God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit?
What do these verses reveal about Saul/Paul?
What do these verses reveal about people who were part of Jesus’ Church, as well as those who were not?
What is God’s message for me from what I read? Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal it as you prayerfully re-read the text.
How should I respond to the Lord’s message?
How will I prepare to observe a full or partial Sabbath day to stop and rest this weekend?
LISTEN to and/or SING a worship song or hymn to help you respond to God. You may find it helpful to use the same song each day, or a different one on some, or all, of the days because of what the Bible verses bring to mind.
PRAY:
You are encouraged to let the Bible verses you read guide your prayer. You may find it helpful to use the daily suggestions as well:
Sunday – Invite the Holy Spirit to help the people of Jesus’ Church locally and globally to truly know that nothing can separate us from God’s love.
Monday – Pray for persecuted Christians, those who are mourning, anyone in need, as well as for all Christians to have a holy boldness to share Jesus and the gospel message of the kingdom of the Lord.
Tuesday – Pray for God to transform the lives of those who do not yet profess Jesus as Savior and Lord. Invite the Holy Spirit to bring specific people to mind, then pray for the Spirit of the Lord to open their eyes, ears, hearts, and minds to enable them to see, hear, and know Jesus.
Wednesday – Ask the Lord to enable you to know who needs to hear the story of your faith journey.
Thursday – Offer thanks to God for the many blessings you have been given and continue to receive. You may find it helpful to write them in a journal or somewhere you can read through the list again some other time.
Friday – Pray for forgiveness from the Lord as you confess the ways you have fallen short. Then ask for the fruit of the Spirit {love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control} to be in full bloom within the people of Jesus’ Church, including in you.
Saturday – Pray a prayer you have memorized, such as the Lord’s Prayer, or let the words of Hebrews 4 guide you.
*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App or Bible Gateway App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.Bible.com or www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online.