Today’s Verse: I think myself happy… ~Acts 26:2 A survey released on June 16, 2020, indicated that Americans were the unhappiest they have been in 50 years. Only 14% of those surveyed said they were happy. This is down from 31% in 2018. This same survey said that no less than 29% of Americans have ever called themselves very happy in a survey. While survey results are not accurately descriptive of everyone, it does tell us that out of the sampling that was done, there are man

Today’s Verse: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: ~Acts 1:3 The word infallible means unfailing, absolutely trustworthy, foolproof, and completely accurate. Luke says that Jesus showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs. We are able to proclaim the power of the gospel message because Jesus is risen and alive. Before

Today’s Verse: Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. ~Acts 26:28 Are you someone who almost made a killing on an investment but did not take a risk? Are you someone who almost became influential, but you did not do everything that was required of you? Almost implies close, but not there. It implies the opportunity was there, but it was turned down. It implies you could have, but you did not do it. There is the delay in almost. Almost is pro

Today’s Verse: But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. ~Acts 27:14 Maritime travel can be exciting and adventurous. It can also be a harrowing experience if you are in a major storm out on the open seas. The bobbing up and down of the ship combined with massive waves thrashing against it will have you on edge and wondering if “this could be it.” Paul was on a ship headed to Italy via the Mediterranean Ocean. He encountered an epic stor

Today’s Verse: For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: ~Acts 24:5 All of us like it when good things are said about us and to us. However, it pays sometimes to know what your critics have to say about you. Much of a what a critic has to say about us has a negative bias and innuendo. Since we tend to dislike criticism, we might overlook things that truthfully

Today’s Verse: And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting…. ~Acts 11:12a Whenever I travel with other people, I am a strict adherent to staying on schedule so as not to miss our transportation or be late to our event. As we approach fifteen minutes before our departure, I remind everyone traveling with me that it’s time to go! In Acts 11, Peter was rehearsing to the church leaders at Jerusalem how the Lord opened the door for Gentiles to hear the gospel and be save

Today’s Verse: These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. ~Acts 1:14 We live in a time of great division and a lack of unitedness. There are divided thoughts about how the government should be run, how money should be spent, and how to protect our country. Among Christians, there is division about how to worship God, the priority of the church, whether God has predetermined who goes to H

Today’s Verse: And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle. ~Acts 23:10 Do you ever feel like the demands in life are pulling you in more than one direction? Do you ever feel like the pull from all the demands placed upon you might pull you to pieces? If so, you’re not alone. Paul was literal

Today’s Verse: Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~Acts 15:26 What do you consider to be hazardous work? Being a firefighter can be hazardous work. Being a scientist who works with chemicals and radioactive material is hazardous work. Working on an oil rig in the ocean is hazardous. There are many hazardous types of work. James said in Acts 15:26 that serving the Lord Jesus Christ is hazardous. That might frighten us at first glance, but

Today’s Verse: Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. ~Acts 14:3 My father was in the meat and grocery business for most of his adult life. I remember, in 1968, when he took his entire life savings to buy a meat and grocery store in a very tough part of the city. Over 25 years, he built a successful family-owned business. There were many challenging t

Today’s Verse: But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. ~Acts 13:51 Some experiences in life can be very stressful and, even, traumatizing. These events can cause us to become bitter and lose focus, and they can make us think that it is best to withdraw and retreat. This morning, we see two men who exemplify incredible resilience. They are like a rubber band when it is stretched to its maximum: they bounced back into form and continued to

Today’s Verse: As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. ~Acts 13:2 One of our greatest needs as Christians is to discern when the Holy Spirit speaks to us. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come as our Comforter and our Teacher (John 14:26). As our Teacher, He teaches us all things, is truth, and is no lie (1 John 2:27). In Acts 8:29, the Spirit told Philip to go near and

Today’s Verse: Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. ~Galatians 6:2 Many years ago, Rescue Journal retold the story of an American who was walking down the streets of a Chinese city and who was greatly interested in the children, many of whom were carrying smaller children upon their backs and managing, at the same time, to play their games, says a writer in the Youth's Companion. "It is too bad," the American sympathetically said to one little fello

Today’s Verse: Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. ~Acts 8:29 Glue is a sticky substance that we use to bond two objects together. They might be pieces of paper. Super Glue® has a special bonding material that can bond denser, heavier objects. Philip the Evangelist was told to go near and join himself with a man in the Gaza desert who was reading Isaiah 53 and wanted to know how to be saved. Let us see how the instruction given to Phil

Today’s Verse: Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ~Acts 5:31 Peter and John had been arrested, imprisoned, and commanded to cease speaking and teaching about Jesus’ death and resurrection. Most of us would probably be intimidated and back down. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, they gave a strong and confident testimony to the elders of the plan of salvation. Peter testified of

Today’s Verse: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. ~Acts 5:39 Sometimes, we can be pushed against the wall and forced to make a choice about our faith. Will we stand, or will we fall? Will we be bold, or will we cower? At that critical moment, what you believe about God determines how you will respond. This morning, we see an important principle about doing God’s work and taking a stand for Him. We see the denunciatio

Today’s Verse: Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? ~Acts 26:8 When something that is great unexpectedly happens, we might react by saying, “That’s incredible!” The word incredible describes something beyond belief, unimaginable, and unbelievable. Paul, in defending his calling and ministry, told his audience, “Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?” The resurrection is incredible

Today’s Verse: But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. ~Acts 15:38 In every language, we have words that we use to describe things that are good or not good. If we say, “That’s good” or, “That’s not good,” we are describing something that we believe is favorable or unfavorable. Several times in the Bible, God calls our attention to things that are not good. We see that detachment is not good.

Today’s Verse: Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, ~Acts 13:9 "Strike while the iron is hot" is a phrase that means take advantage of an opportunity now while it is in front of you. It comes from the idea of a blacksmith who is shaping a piece of metal that has been heated until it is burning red. It is critical that the blacksmith strike, or pound, the metal into the desired shape while it is softened and pliable, or his opp

Today’s Verse: I think myself happy…. ~Acts 26:2a Economist Jeffrey D. Sachs is quoted as saying, “We are in an era of rising tensions and negative emotions.” Worry, sadness, and anger among adolescents and adults has been gradually increasing. The average American ranks his happiness at 6.9 out of a scale of ten. People realize that possessions, position, and popularity are not guarantees for happiness. Spurgeon said, “It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that