Tuesday, January 31

Acts 8:12-13

But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.  Simon himself believed and was baptized.  And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

Reflection

When the Samarians, including Simon the Sorcerer, accepted the message of Jesus Christ that Philip was preaching then their direction in life began to change.  They started to turn away from the culture and the individualist, consumerist and materialist perspectives that it taught and they began to move toward Jesus and the principles that he taught.  However, it would be unfair and unrealistic to expect Simon to change completely immediately.  The process of turning from cultural values to kingdom values is a process.  When Simon saw the great miracles that Philip was performing in the name of Jesus Christ he may have wrongly assumed that Philip was performing a kind of sorcery.  Simon needed someone to walk along side of him and teach him and mentor him in his new found faith.

Have you noticed how those who turn to Jesus from the culture need help and guidance to fully move toward Faith in Jesus Christ?  How can you be helpful to people who are leaving cultural influences to follow Jesus Christ?

Monday, January 30

Acts 8:9-11

Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria.  He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.”  They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.

Reflection

These verses describe a man named Simon who practiced sorcery in a Samarian city.  Simon was a product of his culture.  He did whatever was needed to promote his personal position and increase his own personal gain.  Simon didn’t particularly think what he was doing was wrong it was just advantageous for him to practice sorcery because it brought him attention and I am sure that he was able to make money off his practices as well.  This is where Simon was when he heard the good news of Jesus.  His cultural reality was his starting place for his journey toward Jesus. 

Think about people you know who don’t follow Jesus? 

How has the culture formed their viewpoints and perspectives?  What will be their starting place if they decide to change direction and follow Jesus?

January 29 - February 4

Where We Start is Individualist,

Consumerist, Materialist

Acts 8:9-24

Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria.  He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.”  They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.   But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.  Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.  When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.  When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.  Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.  When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”  Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!  You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.  Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord.  Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.  For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”  Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

This week we are going to focus on where people in the culture who don’t know Jesus start regarding their viewpoints and attitudes.  Most people start out as individualists, consumerists and materialists.  The reason they start with these ideas is because that is what the culture teaches them.  We can’t expect people to think differently than this and it shouldn’t surprise or shock us when they live life from these perspectives.  In our devotions this week we will use the story from the Acts of the Apostles to help guide our response and how we connect with people who are starting their journey with Jesus with the mindset of the prevailing culture.

Saturday, January 28

Hebrews 12:2

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Reflection

The key of staying on the journey toward Jesus is to keep our eyes on Jesus.  Jesus is the one who created and purchased our salvation for each of us.  Jesus has been exalted through his resurrection and he is sitting at the right hand of the throne of God.  If we keep our eyes on the glorious image of Jesus then we will be given the strength to follow his ways and continue the journey toward him.  It is when we look at other things and take our gaze off of Jesus that we become distracted and begin to waver in our direction for life.

Today, make the commitment to keep your eyes on Jesus.

Friday, January 27

Hebrews 12:1b

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Reflection

What is the race marked out for us?  It is to continuously be on the journey toward Jesus.  We are also to take as many people as possible on that race with us.  We need to reach people who aren’t following Jesus and invite them to join us on the journey. 

As we are involved in this race that takes us toward Jesus we need to be sure that we cast away everything that can hold us back.   We need to persevere in following the teachings of Jesus and continuing the journey toward Jesus.

Make the commitment to persevere in following Jesus even when things that hinder you block your path.

Thursday, January 26

Matthew 7:27

“The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Reflection

When we are not living according to the teachings of Jesus then we are not headed toward him.  That is a foolish choice for life.  When we face difficulties, problems and challenges then we will not have the foundation to keep us safe.  It will be like building a house on a foundation of sand.  If we want a life that is headed in the right direction then we need to build our life on Jesus and his teachings.  There is no other way to be safely headed toward the direction of Jesus.

It is also important to note that we should help others who aren’t following Jesus to begin to realize that they need to change their direction and head toward Jesus.

What choice have you made in life?  Are you headed toward Jesus or in some other direction?  Do you follow the teachings and guidance of Jesus?

Wednesday, January 25

Matthew 7:26

“But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.”

Reflection

When we ignore Jesus’ wise and good words for our life then we are treading on very dangerous ground.  Jesus says that if we know his teachings and we don’t follow them then we have made a very foolish choice.  This direction for life is foolish because it takes us away from Jesus.  It is like building a house on the sand.

Take a look at your life and be honest.  Are you living according to the teachings of Jesus or are you going your own way?