6-28-22 Today in the Word

From Saul to Paul Tuesday, June 28 | Acts 26:1–29 On the Go? Listen to Today's Devotional Every Moody Bible Institute student is required to take a class called Apologetics. In this class, students learn reasoned arguments for Christianity and how to defend the gospel against false religions. One of the strongest arguments for the validity of the gospel and Jesus’ resurrection is the evidence of changed lives. Today’s text documents the testimony of a transformed life. A Pharisee named Saul was a persecutor of Christians. By his own admission he opposed Jesus, put believers in prison, and sentenced some to death (vv. 9–10). In his obsession to stop them, he forced them to blaspheme and oppressed them (v. 11). But everything changed when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus (vv. 12–18). After his encounter with the Lord, he was transformed from Saul the persecutor to Paul the preacher. When Paul would share his testimony, he often began by clearly describing his resistance to Jesus and followers of Christ. He then moved to a very specific encounter with Jesus. As seen in our text today, he would explain in detail where he was and what he was thinking. Finally, he described what his life had been like ever since. Clearly, his priorities had changed, and his life was transformed. Paul’s testimony gives us a model of the way to share with others how knowing Jesus changed our lives and gave us another chance. It is important to articulate what our “Saul” days were like, the time before following Christ. What preoccupied our lives and what sin entangled us? Then, like Paul, we should detail a special time, event, or conversation we had that began to change everything. Finally, describe how your life has changed since you met Jesus and how your priorities are different. >> Now that you have a simple outline of how to share your con- version story, pray for an opportunity to share it with someone. Then, when the timing is right, be bold and tell that person how God transformed your life. Pray with Us You have told us to tell the world what You have taught us and what You have done for us. Give us discernment to recognize opportunities to proclaim the gospel. Renew our own wonder as we revisit the past that You have saved us from.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

9-16-23 Santa Staleness

Santa Staleness :: By Edwin Tan Published on: December 24, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles My one and only trip to Israel had more than a profound effect on my present-day psyche. It might have been three decades ago, but there is more than a lingering aftertaste. It happened smack in the last fortnight of the year. Surprisingly absent were the familiar sights and sounds of the Christmas most people are accustomed to. Hardly any Christmas decorations in downtown Tel Aviv, if not any of the shopping thoroughfares across the Holy Land. Hanukah was a breath of fresh air – not anything resembling a Christmas carol most people grew up with did surface. The Christmas Eve service in a small Protestant church not far away from Jerusalem’s Old City was awesome; songs that truly celebrated the virgin birth of our Lord, which though seemingly unheard of, were a welcome inspiration to many a soul. There was even one sung in Arabic! So it began, my overt disdain for the secular Christmas t...
Read more

9-25-23 The Farm Chronicles: One Christmas

The Farm Chronicles: One Christmas :: By Bill Wilson Published on: December 24, 2022 by RR10 Category:Bill Wilson, General Articles There are a lot of terrible things going on right now in the world. But we are at the time of the year when we, as Christians, celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We can choose to be impacted by the world around us in its dimly lit arena, or we can choose to let our light so shine. I choose the latter. I want to tell you a little about the Christmas that I had growing up on our family farm in Ohio. I was blessed to be born into a horse and cattle farm that has been in our family for some 200 years. And Christmas, especially Christmas Eve, was a wonderful time for our family. December 24 was my Dad’s birthday. And my Dad was well-loved by his neighbors and friends, so we had a lot going on Christmas Eve. I remember one special Christmas Eve. I must have been about four years old. The night was falling, and the wind and snow were whipping across the barny...
Read more

9-15-23 Miracles 2

Miracles 2 :: By Jim Towers Published on: December 21, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles This story is a continuation of the exciting things God continues doing in my life. I was supposed to have died a while back, and sometimes I feel as though I may do so soon. But since I’m ready to meet my maker, I have no fear of death. In fact, my evangelistic zeal has only increased, especially as I see the fast approaching of the “Tribulation period” mentioned in the book of Revelation. Insofar as my acting career is concerned, I just finished filming a soliloquy featuring Melchior, one of the three Magi who followed the star to Christ lying in the manger, and am preparing to portray a Jewish Priest on stage. Like I said, God is working overtime in my life, and I will be appearing on stage singing Broadway show tunes sometime in March, so I have a lot of rehearsing to do. In the meantime, I will be signing Christmas carols acapella at a park here in Naples. Since it is a spontaneous th...
Read more