AnActsDevotional

  Acts 28:30-31 Paul has been shipped to Rome as a prisoner but he's left with his own accommodations in Rome so he takes advantage of this by teaching about the Kingdom. Lord Jesus, I pray for the Christians in prison.  Please help them to use their situation to teach about the Kingdom. In Your name.

  Acts 28:16-29 Paul is allowed to stay alone so he sent for the Jews in Roman to see if he could get any to hear his point of view.  Some did and some did not so he quoted from Isaiah ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding;      you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” 27  For this people’s heart has become calloused;      they hardly hear with their ears,      and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes,      hear with their ears,      understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ [ a ] Lord Jesus; we need You. Open our hearts and minds to the leading of Your Holy Spirit.  Amen 

  Acts 28:11-15 The prisoners stayed in Malta for 3 months, over the winter and eventually got a new boat...one that represented other gods.  There trip was interesting because at one port some Christians invited them to spend a week with them.  (Can you imagine opening your home up to a bunch of prisoners?)  Paul was thankful and encouraged by the fact that they came to met them. Lord Jesus, help us to listen to Your voice.  Give us compassion and courage to be hospitable and help us to be encouraged and thankful because of those You have placed in our midst.  Amen

  Acts 28:6-10 Not only was Paul protected from the snake; he also was able to pray for people's healing and they were healed!  This happened initially because of the hospitality of the folks in Malta and it continued. Lord Jesus, please help us to have two way relationships where we can give and receive.  Thank You for what You did for Paul and the group of prisoners he was travelling with.  Help us not to undermine folks who have had different experience than our own.  Instead help us to stay focused on You and show us how to be useful to others like Paul was, even though he was a prisoner.  Lord Jesus, may Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Amen

  Acts 28:1-5 Here are a bunch of stranded prisoners but the folks in Malta treated them well.  It's interesting the interpretation of the incident where a snake wrapped around Paul's hand.  They thought the god of justice was getting him but he flicked it off into the fire.  The truth is though that Paul was a murder; saved by God's grace.  I wonder how often Paul thought of this. Lord Jesus, thank You for Your grace.  I love restorative justice and this is what Paul participated in. He went from killing Christians to raising them up.  Lord, would You intervene in this world with restorative justice please.  We need this over war.  Give the world leaders wisdom.  Help them to realize they need You.  I pray too for our local leaders; in policing, the church, schools...Lord Jesus, help us to practice restorative justice.  Amen.

  Acts 27:27-44 A ship with a bunch of prisoners, including Paul, got caught up in a storm and ran aground.  They listened to Paul, however, and ate and didn't let the sailors leave before they all could go.  The centurion liked Paul because he intervened when others thought they should kill all of the prisoners. Lord Jesus, sometimes our choices in life led us into storms we're not prepared for and during these storms we forget to do some of the basics like eat!  We also get rid of things we may need later, like grain.  Yet through the storm You are there asking for us to listen to You for wisdom.  Help us to never to forget to thank You even during the storm.  Thank You, for coming to earth, allowing others to kill You and then rising from the dead.  Thank You for Your provisions, Thank You for friends and family Thank You for...

  Acts 27:13-26 Sometimes the storms we encounter in our lives are because we didn't listen and stop when we were suppose to stop.  In this case, however, they were worried about getting away from where it wasn't safe to stay for the winter.  Unfortunately though they still ran into trouble...so much so they had no food left and the storm was still raging.  Yet Paul assured them that God had not left them. Lord Jesus, thank You for never leaving us alone, even during the storms that we choose to run into.  Please calm us, guide us and protect us in this journey we call life.  Amen

Acts 27:9-12 In this case, because of the need for finding a safe place to stay for the winter, they ignored the advice of Paul, and kept going. Lord Jesus, life is a journey and sometimes we keep going when we need to stop.  Please help us to make wise decisions 

  Acts 27:1-8 It is interesting that in one of the stops the centurion, in charge of the prisoners, let Paul connect with his friends so they could take care of him.  Even in our toughest times God looks out for His own. Lord Jesus, please help us to see where You are working and accept Your gifts with gratitude.

Acts 25:23-26:32   Paul presented his case to King Agrippa and the King found nothing wrong with him but it seems that this was God's way to present His story to folks of all ranks. Lord Jesus, help us to always be prepared for the hope we have in Christ Jesus; his death and resurrection. And Lord Jesus, open up opportunities for us to share to folks of all walks of life.

  Acts 25:13-22 Sometimes our lives as followers of Jesus get other people talking such that they want to met us in person! Lord Jesus, may our lives be such that others seek You because of us.  In Your mighty name.  Amen

  Acts 25:6-12 Although Paul is treated harshly by the religious leaders he's not distracted from God's Kingdom purposes and he see how his arrest is bringing him before leaders of power.  In this case, he knows they are plotting to murder him in Jerusalem so he asks to go before Caesar. Lord Jesus, even when things aren't going our way, help us to look out for how we can make a God difference in this world.  Watch over my friends and relatives as they go about their business today.  Help them to seek out Your will and obey You.

  Acts 25:1-5 Festus goes to Jerusalem to check out the charges against Paul but still the Jews are planning to ambush and kill Paul.  Festus protects him by keeping him in prison. Lord Jesus, I pray for the women who are incarcerated with the men claiming to be women!  Jail isn't a safe place for them like it was for Paul. Please show us what we can do about it.  And Lord, for those folks who feel safer in prison than on the streets please provide for them what they need to live as healthy members of society.  Lord, this world needs You; especially when we see how religious people treat people who believe differently than them; like in Paul's case.  We invite You into this world through Your Holy Spirit.  In Your mighty name.

  Acts 24:1-30 Paul was heard but he was also left in prison for over 2 years with relaxed rules on him. Lord Jesus, we need You.  As people who fear God sometimes we're not very compassionate on those who who think differently than us.  Please help us to view this world through Your eyes.  Give us Your heart of compassion, and understanding.  Help us deal with our anger issues along with our hurts. Amen

Acts 23:23-35   In God's Kingdom interesting things happen.  Here Paul gets transferred into a situation where he can share the gospel with those in authority; so although he's a prisoner God is preparing for greater things. Lord Jesus, please help us to see things through Your eyes.  Give us Your peace, direction and understanding.  In Your mighty name. Amen

  Acts 23:12-22 They say what goes around comes around.  At one time Paul was killing Christians but now the Jews are planning to kill him!...all because he told Gentiles about the good news of Jesus; and this led to the complication of who is to obey the Jewish laws and what laws should they obey. Lord Jesus, sometimes our passion for You and Your laws get in the way of compassion.  Teach us how to love each other well and how to balance that with our love for ourselves and our love for You.  Give us your wisdom and the courage to follow through with what You're telling us to do.  I pray too for the president of the Ukraine.  Protect him from his enemies and inspire his faith such that he can lead his people through this trying time.  Amen