Daily Grace
Giving Thanks in the Storm
“After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves” (Acts 27:35-36). Two weeks is a long time to go without eating. Yet, the storm at sea had...
Inspire Courage in Others
“Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have...
Hope Doesn’t Disappoint
“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved” (Acts 27:20). Maybe everyone has at some time had the feeling of hopelessness. Without Jesus we encounter situations that are beyond our...
Who is on Trial?
“ ‘King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.’ ‘Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’ ” (Acts 26:27-28). Paul was an amazing man. Even though he was on trial for his life he was only...
From Darkness to Light
“I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified...
Evil Used For Good
“I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome” (Acts 25:25). This is how Festus, the governor from Rome, introduced Paul to King Agrippa. Paul was under constant threat from his enemies...
Christianity vs Religion
“When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive” (Acts 25:18-19). Festus, the...
Called Out From Comfort
“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles’ ” (Acts 22:21). I’m like most of us. I like to stay in my comfort zone. There are places in which I am relaxed because I am familiar with that culture. There are people with whom I am...
The Value of Believers
“My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me. A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul,...