SOI
JULY, 1946
Meditations in Acts
tDevoti lone Lowman, Ph.Q. JULY 9 Today's Scripture: Acts 7:29-34 “I have seen the affliction of my people.” Nothing comes to us Christians, unknown of God. Nothing touches us except He fe£ls it first. Nothing happens to us but by‘ His permissive will. Is affliction upon you today? Listen to His words: "I have seen... . . I have heard . . . I am come down to deliver." What a wonderful Saviour is He! He knows our every need and in Himself'is all supply: strength in affliction, courage.,in discouragement, comfort in sorrow, peace in chaos, and wisdom in perplexity. L'''skvto Him for your deliverance. JULY 10 Today's Scripture: Acts 8:36-40 :' “I believe that Jesus Christ is ihe Son of God.” “-You believe in Him and not in yourself; in His goodness, not yours; in His power, not yours; in His Word, His work, His sufferings. His prayers, not In your own. A man's faith finds unequivocal utterance rin his conduct Whatever love and confidence you have toward God will he manifest in your conduct. '—George Bowen. - . Today, Lord Jesus, I offer to Thee my love, -faith, actions, attitudes, .and ;words Keep me by Thy power, and the praise will belong to Thee. JULY 11 Today's Scripture: Acts 9:1-6 “ Who art thou, Lord?” No one ever sincerely asked this question who failed to learn the answer, “ I am Jesus ” The response to that answer deter mines destiny. We Who have responded and believed on Him, our Lord and Saviour, will voluntarily take up Saul’s next ques tion. “ Lord, what wilt thou have me ■to do?’’ Pause, now, and listen. Arise from your listening' and obey. JULY 12 Today's Scripture: Acts 9:20-25 “ Straightway he preached Christ , . . that he is the Son of God.” Many marvel at this transformation in Paul; some scoff at the tale; some are indif ferent. But the soul that has experienced that same transformation hows anew in humility and reverence and. like Paul, in creases in strength as he witnesses tlie fact that faith in Jesus Christ can change any Saul to Paul. As we know Jesus Christ better, we become smaller in our own sight, proving tha< this same Jesus is the very Christ. And knowing something of the per secution by His enemies, we "rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.' . JULY 13 Today's Scripture: Acts 10:17-22 “ Arise . . . get thee down, and, go with them , doubting nothing ” At the Crossroads? Pondering in your heart? Uncertain as to what decision to make? Hear the voice of God’s Spirit saying. "Arise." Take the first step and as you. do that, the next will open up before you. Get thee down ” The way up is always depen dent upon the “ down." Humble obedience is blessed. "Gc . . . doubting nothing." Your faith in action will he rewarded by His guidance. God has promised that His Spirit will prompt with these words: “ This is^ the way, walk ye in it." JULY 5 Today's Scripture: Acts 5:34-42 “ They ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” "We are all attracted to Christ, but we are held back by many things. Our testi mony is not clear because we are afraid of what people will think. Some are hindered by thCir pondering as to what they might get out of Christianity. The Church is only another word for the organized friends of Jesus. Even the disciples didn’t get much out of it when they squabbled about it. But when they were missionaries in the heathen world for Christ’s sake, ‘they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were, counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.’ So may we.” — Lester Weatherford. JULY 6 Today's Scripture: Acts 6:1-7 “Look ye out among you . . . men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” The problems among believers in the days of the apostles are not so different from those which arise nowadays. As souls are won, there will arise murmurings because some will feel they are neglected. What sor row of heart we cause our Saviour because we seek to be ministered unto! Each of us has his place of service chosen by God, and each of us needs to be filled with "the Holy Ghost' and wisdom" whether we be chosen to serve tables or to minister the Word. Let us be faithful. JULY 7 Today's Scripture: Acts 6:8-15 “ All . . . looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.” "On the petals of the cowslip are five small drops of red, which are supposed to represent the five wounds with which Christ was wounded on the Cross. Because of these spots, the cowslip supposedly has the virtue of keeping the beauty of youth unspoiled. It Is the wounds of Jesus that keep the beauty ot our hearts unspoiled. These wounds wash awa.v the stains when hearts are soiled by sin. These wounds make them pure and fair again. Jesus Christ alone can give us the "angel" heart. If the heart is like an ange\ then will the face shine as did Stephen’s with the light of God’s presence." —James Hastings. JULY 8 Today's Scripture: Acts 7:1-7 “ The God of glory appeared unto . . . Abraham.” The God of glory talked with Abraham. He gave him directions, and He gave him a promise. Abraham obeyed the directions, and received the fulfillment of the promise; “ I n .thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” Like Abraham, we may hear the voice of the God of glory, and obeying it. receive the fulfillment of God’s promises to us. JULY 1 Today's Scripture: Acts 3:1-11 "He gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them” The lame man needed healing. What do 1 need? This man looked to the apostles and listened to their words; he expected to re ceive something from them. His faith was rewarded; he received the ability to stand, to walk, and to go to the temple praising God. I, too, will give heed to the Lord Jesus and His Word, expecting to receive from Him the supply for my need. ‘‘My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him." JULY 2 Today's Scripture: Acts 4:5-12 “Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them . . . by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth . . . doth this man stand here before you whole . . ♦ there is none other name . . . whereby we must be saved ” Being fillea with the Spirit, Peter could tell others of the one and only Name whereby men find salvation which includes peace, joy and rest. May the Holy Spirit show us what fullness of joy there is for us in our salvation. A' man speaks out of the abundance of his heart. The "filled" heart produces words spoken joyfully and full of power. If we are filled to overflowing by His Spirit, we, like Peter, shall speak with all boldness and power. We shall praise God, whose provision never fails. JULY 3 Today's Scripture: Acts 4:23-31 uThey went to their own company ” “ If we had been told what kind of com pany Peter and John had in prison, we should not have known what kind of men they were . . . There, their companions were free, they went to the companions they had chosen of their own accord; ‘they went to their own company.’ People choose com panions they like, those with whom they have something in common. Our company testifies to others of our fa ith ."— James Hastings. „ , If we walk today with Jesus, others see ing us will know that we have been with Him. JULY 4 Today's Scripture: Acts 5:17-28 ’‘The angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors.” How often when the night of personal ex- perience seems darkest, the doors of our spiritual prison have swung open, and God’s light has shone in. There is not one of those nights so dark but that His touch can bring in light. Trust in the Name of our God and stay your heart on His unbreakable Word, "Lo, I am with you." When His purpose is fulfilled, He will open the prison doors, bring you out and you shall "stand and speak" in the light of spiritual day, wit nessing with joy to His power and presence.
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