Are You Reasoning Daily?

Daily Reading: Acts 19

Scripture Focus: But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years. (Acts 19:9-10)

Devotional Thought: Paul was unmatched in zealousness, both before and after his conversion. As a Jewish leader, he came from the right family, had the right education, and possessed a passion for righteousness under the Law. Thus, he persecuted Christians with zeal. As a Christian, Paul’s entire life and perspective is changed, but his personality remains intact. The Lord uses Paul’s zeal, his boldness, and his passion for righteousness to advance his Kingdom.

In Ephesus, he unabashedly enters the Jewish synagogue and “for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God” (v. 8). However, when the Jews “became stubborn and continued in disbelief, speaking evil of the Way” (v. 9), Paul knew that his efforts would be more fruitful in a different arena, “reasoning daily… This continued for two years…” (v. 9-10).

Wow! Daily ministry for two years… it doesn’t get more zealous than that! We know that God was “doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,” (v. 11), but we also know that Paul’s preaching came at a great cost to him personally. He was mocked, beaten, thrown in prison, even stoned. But, his message to the world – the message of salvation through faith in Jesus – was one that simply had to be spread, whatever the cost.

So it is for us as well. There is no passive faith in Jesus. The good news we have for a lost and hurting world is too important to keep to ourselves. Let us proclaim the truth with zeal!

Jenny

Prayer: Jesus, give us boldness! We are too often embarrassed to speak of you, afraid of rejection or of harm to our reputation. Fill our hearts with love for those who need to hear the truth, and then empower us by your Spirit! Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 71.17-24

17 O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. 18 So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. 19 Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? 20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. 21 You will increase my greatness and comfort me again.

22 I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. 23 My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed. 24 And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long, for they have been put to shame and disappointed who sought to do me hurt.