Daily Devotional from Proverb 11—Verse 12Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.I’m on the board of my neighborhood HOA. I sometimes hear the grievances one neighbor has with another. It might be fast driving, ‘junk’ outside, or incessantly barking dogs…These things can be legitimately irritating.There are good and poor ways of dealing with irritation...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Acts 11--Verses 25-26Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.Everybody had grave suspicions when it came to this fellow named Saul. And for good reason. He wreaked havoc upon the church for years. And recent reports of him now claiming to follow Jesus was probably just interpreted as some kind of ploy. Allow him admittanc...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Acts 10--Verse 28b…but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. This thought was revolutionary to the Jews. Not only was Jesus for them—He was for the whole world. Those of us who aren’t Jewish people were not excluded from the promises of God. That’s pretty exciting! It’s easy to put people in ‘otherness’ boxes. “Oh, he’ll never become a Christia...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Acts 9—Verse 21And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”This is an important lesson for us in at least two ways:1. We should not try to limit what God can do in anyone’s life. Sometimes the people who ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Acts 8—Verses 30-31When Philip ran up to it, he heard [the Ethiopian man] reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.The Ethiopian man was intrigued by the Jewish scriptures. He was reading them aloud, trying to understand them, but couldn’t. ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Acts 7--Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.Stephen was one of the seven chosen by the apostles to take care of practical needs of believers, while the apostles devoted themselves to prayer and ministry of the Word. Yet, full of the Holy Spirit, Stephen was working many signs and wonders, spreading the good news, making conve...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 116—Verse 1I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.Ask people what they think some of the most important qualities in a friend would be, and you will regularly get “good listener” in that list. We need sounding boards, to help us process our emotions or work out our faith, or make decisions. Sometimes we need a listening ear as we dig deep ...  Read More

Daily Devotional of Acts 6--Verse 7And the Word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly. Do you see the correspondence? Sowing and Reaping. Seedtime and Harvest. One comes before the other. Some people hold the notion that the church brought forth the Scriptures. But this text shows us that the Scriptures are actually responsible for the church. When the Wo...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Acts 5—Verses 41-42Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.Wow. The apostles were beaten—and they rejoiced!It’s so backwards in our world to find joy when we suffer. It’s human nat...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Acts 4—Verses 29-31“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Acts 3--Verses 9-10All the people saw [the lame beggar] walking and praising God, and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.Our testimony of what God has done in our lives is the best witness of Jesus in our lives. Everyone knew who this man was...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Acts 2--Verse 42And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.After Pentecost, the early Christians, before they were even known as Christians, were devoted to spending time together. Our verse today, and others that follow, tell us they were sharing meals together, praying, praising God, selling property to...  Read More