Day 288 Bible Readings for October 17 - Acts 20:33-35 (NLT)

Acts 19-20, Psalm 128

Acts 20:33-35 (NLT)

“I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

In Acts 20:33–35, Paul met with the elders of the church in Ephesus and told them he never aimed to profit from his ministry. He did not covet anyone's silver, gold, or fine clothes. Paul then told them he worked with his own hands to supply his personal necessities. His labor also helped provide for his companions in his work to spread the gospel. Paul then reminded the elders of the church that his conduct had matched his teaching. Through his hard work, Paul was able to help those in need.

One Bible commentary I read noted that Paul's freedom from the desire for possessions and status confirmed his reliance on the Lord's provision in his life. That same Bible commentary also noted that Father-God wants the hearts of believers free from greed so they can give themselves fully to Christ and His people. Another Bible commentary noted that these verses show that Paul exemplifies the value of hard work and self-sufficiency. Paul demonstrated that he had a selfless approach to his ministry.

These verses remind me that, as a believer, my conduct needs to reflect the character of Jesus Christ. Paul showed that giving was a source of blessing in his life and aligned with what Jesus taught. The fruit of Paul's labor was that he was able to be generous to those who worked alongside him and those in need. I pray that, like Paul, I am motivated to give the Lord glory and to build up the Lord's people.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One whose character is an example for believers to emulate—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.

Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus' name. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord's love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.

Day 287 Bible Readings - Acts 18:9-11 (NLT)

Acts 17-18, Psalm 127

Acts 18:9-11 (NLT)

“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, ‘Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.’ So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God.”

In Acts 18:9–11, Paul heard from the Lord in a vision when he was in Corinth. Paul was preaching in the synagogue, but when the people there opposed him, he decided to preach to the Gentiles. Paul stayed at the home of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and his entire household became believers. Many others in Corinth also believed and were baptized. Father-God told Paul that He was with him and that no one would attack and harm him because many people belonged to the Lord. After the vision, Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching about Christ.

One Bible commentary I read noted that the implication behind the Lord telling Paul not to be afraid was that Paul feared his work in Corinth would be cut short by opposing Jews or others. Paul had recently faced hostility in Philippi and Thessalonica. Paul later wrote to the church in Corinth and said, “I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3). Father-God told him to keep on speaking and not be silent and promised him protection. Paul trusted in what the Lord said and stayed in Corinth for eighteen months.

What struck me about these verses is that the Lord spoke to Paul directly in a vision and strengthened him. Father-God knew that Paul was fearful, so He encouraged him not to be afraid and to keep on speaking. The Lord also assured Paul that He would be with him in Corinth and that Paul would be protected. These verses tell me that Father-God knows when His children are fearful and will reach out to them in a hard season and assure them of His love and presence. The Lord will also give them encouragement and whatever they need to continue walking in faith.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who knows when we are afraid and will reach out to comfort us—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.

Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus' name. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord's love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.

Day 286 Bible Readings - Acts 16:25-26 (NLT)

Acts 15-16, Psalm 126

Acts 16:25-26 (NLT)

“Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!”

In Acts 16:25–26, Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to the Lord while they were imprisoned in Philippi. Around midnight, there was a massive earthquake that shook the prison to its foundations. Supernaturally, the prison doors flew open, and the chains of every prisoner came loose.

What I liked about these verses is that Paul and Silas were in difficult circumstances, and they still worshipped the Lord by praying and singing hymns. One Bible commentary I read noted that their worship testified that the Lord remained worthy of their trust even though they had been beaten and were in jail. While they were worshipping, the Lord's power was displayed through a massive earthquake that shook the prison. Father-God also displayed His power by causing all the prison doors to fly open and the prisoners' chains to come loose.

When I read these verses, I thought about all the times I was in a challenging situation, and I definitely wasn't praising the Lord with prayer and songs. I was complaining, feeling sorry for myself, and asking the Lord why He had forgotten me or whether He was punishing me for something I had done wrong. I pray that the next time I am in a difficult situation, instead of complaining or feeling sorry for myself, I will pray, praise, and sing songs to the Lord to demonstrate that I trust in Him and His plan for my life.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One we can trust to hear our prayers and praises no matter what circumstances we are in—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.

Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus' name. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord's love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.

Day 285 Bible Readings for October 14 - Acts 13:50-51 (NLT)

Acts 13-14, Psalm 125

Acts 13:50-51 (NLT)

“Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town. So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium.”

In Acts 13:50–51, the Jewish leaders in Pisidian Antioch influenced prominent religious women and the leading men of the city to oppose Paul and Barnabas, who were preaching the Gospel. They stirred up persecution against them and drove them out of the city. Paul and Barnabas followed Jesus' instructions to His disciples about what to do when a town rejected His message. They shook the dust from their feet as a sign that the responsibility for rejecting the Gospel rested with those who refused to receive it after it had been faithfully proclaimed. Paul and Barnabas then went to Iconium, southeast of Antioch.

One Bible commentary I read on these verses noted that followers of Christ should anticipate resistance when sharing the Gospel because opposition can be part of the Christian journey. But believers need to persevere and continue their mission to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Believers can also learn from how Paul and Barnabas responded to the rejection of their preaching. Both men left the city and shook the dust from their feet, signifying that the responsibility for rejecting the Gospel lay with those who refused to receive it, not with those who had faithfully delivered the message.

What I like about these verses is the message to focus our efforts on people who are receptive and open to hearing the message of Jesus Christ. I don't need to be discouraged by rejection because I am responsible for faithfully sharing Christ's message, not for whether someone accepts it. I was with a group of friends for a few days and prayed for the Holy Spirit to show me who would be receptive to hearing the message of Jesus Christ. None of them seemed receptive, and instead, they openly mocked people who loved Christ. I prayed while listening to this discussion, asking for guidance about whether to speak up and say something, but the guidance I understood from the Holy Spirit was to stay silent and listen. I started to feel bad that I hadn't spoken up, but when I prayed about it afterward, I felt the Holy Spirit reassuring me that my words would not have been welcome. So I prayed for my friends and asked that the Holy Spirit work in their lives so that one day I might have an opportunity to tell them about the Lord.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who guides us as we share the Gospel and teaches us to trust Him even when others reject His message—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.

Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus' name. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord's love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.