FBC Daily Devotions

What are some truths you learned from last Sunday’s message? How can it make a difference this week?

IN YOUR OWN WORDS

The gospel – it is good news because it has reconciled us to God and assures we will live with Him for eternity. It is the message that needs to be heard by everyone. As an act of love, it is the greatest thing we can do for someone without Christ. This week’s devotions are intended to help you share your faith. It begins with an understanding of the gospel message, the experience of the gospel power in our own lives, and the sharing of the gospel – sometimes in our own words. Read on… –Pastor Mike

Look over your notes from the past week. What one or two things did God impress upon you this week?

Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.

A ministry of reconciliation. Note how many times in the passage the word reconciliation or reconcile are used. It is the reason for Christ’s ministry to us and the reason for our ministry to others. In these few short verses, look over the passage more closely:

Who we were/are:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

What God did for us:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Our ministry/message:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

As Christ’s new ambassadors, our ministry here is to reconcile others to God on His behalf. That is a high calling, but a privilege considering what He did for us.

To Consider
God took the initiative to redeem us from sin. As His ambassadors, are there those in your “Jerusalem”, “Judea”, etc. that you could initiate an appeal for reconciliation to God? Pray for boldness and wisdom to carry out that task as the Spirit leads.

Read Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 2:14-15.

In Day 2 of this week’s devotional, it was stated that the early disciples were commanded to make disciples everywhere they went. In today’s Acts passage, we see the extent to which they would make disciples. Beginning in Jerusalem, discipleship would occur in their home town. Later, it would stretch into the surrounding cities of Judea. Later still, disciplemaking would occur in areas that were beginning to get uncomfortable. The Samaritans were not well-liked. Tensions between the Jews and the Samaritans were high at the time. Making disciples in towns like this would certainly be a challenge for the early disciples from Jerusalem. And if that wasn’t enough, they would venture into lands that were completely foreign to them. Clearly, Jesus wanted discipleship to be a worldwide affair.

Let me make an observation here. In today’s passage, Jesus says that his disciples will be His witnesses essentially throughout the world. It is interesting that Jesus doesn’t command them to go to these uttermost places. He says “you will be my witnesses…” Some commentators have noted that Jesus was telling them what would happen, not telling what to do. Taken this way, everywhere they went, a testimony of Christ would be left behind. And to that the question must be raised: What kind of testimony would they leave?

To Consider
We are all witnesses of Christ everywhere we go. Our challenge is to leave the fragrance of Christ, and be a positive witness for Him. Consider what fragrance you are imparting wherever you go – your work, home, when you go out to dinner, when you meet strangers, etc.

If Jerusalem represented your home, what kind of witness are you there? If Judea represented your place of work, what kind of witness are you there? What represents your Samaria and ends of earth in your life?