Devotional for Wednesday February 9, 2022
Morning Acts 4:13-20
Noon Psalm 2
Evening 1 Corinthians 9:13-19
On countless occasions, during the reading of these types of passages, I tried to imagine what the apostles saw, heard and felt; what Moses observed through the crack in the rock, or what Paul's experience was to encourage him to say: "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel". All of them at their time, depending on the manifestations of the Spirit, had personal experiences with the Lord, listening to His voice. Each of them had this privilege, and it was enough for them to dedicate the rest of their lives to testify of the mercies of the Lord. Now, your experience with God may not be the same as those encounters, but it is not a matter of competing. Remember your past, think of the emptiness or loneliness, remember your anguish or the healing that brought you to Jesus. Hasn’t your life changed? Being in darkness, haven’t you returned to the light? Don’t you feel his presence when you call him, or in your loneliness when he often embraces you? If we know that His death saved us, we are committed to His love, and we can’t remain silent. How to be silent, how not to speak of the One who has loved us so much?
Written by Yoandry Jimenez
Translated by C.D.R.Sunza
Morning Acts 4:13-20
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Noon Psalm 2
1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Evening 1 Corinthians 9:13-19
13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
Prayer Guide: [Colombia-Punta De Blanco] and [Haití-Diviviere]
February's challenge: Show love, not only with words but with deeds, to your relatives, to your spiritual brothers and the neighbors. Give them flowers, make a donation when needed, write something special to them, help the needy, feed the hungry, etc. Pray for this daily.
Annual Bible reading: Numbers 13, 14, 15
