Do you point people to Jesus from the Scriptures?

 28 Jun 26

Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year One


Readings:

Job 13

Job 14

Job 15

Acts 8:26-40


Then Philip opened his mouth, and, beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him (Acts 8:35). 


Do you point people to Jesus from the Scriptures?


The Lord calls Philip, the evangelist away from a bustling ministry in Samaria (Acts 8:5-6) to one man that he will meet “along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza” (Acts 8:26). Philip obeys and encounters an unnamed man serving “under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians” (Acts 8:27). The obedient evangelist heeds the voice of the Spirit, and finds the man perplexed while trying to understand a passage in Isaiah 53. “Then Philip opened his mouth,” writes Luke, “and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him” (Acts 8:35). Philip imitates the Lord Jesus. “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them [two unnamed disciples going to Emmaus] in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). 


Employment Point: Direct people to Jesus using the Scriptures.

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Reflections

I pray that the Lord grant us wisdom and knowledge of the word so that every one of us would be able to retain those knowledge and direct people to Jesus using the Scriptures.


“But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God. You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you!”

‭‭Job‬ ‭13‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  • Job’s words are a reminder to us all that when we speak, we ought to seek God’s wisdom. If it does not encourage, if it is only gossip or worse yet if it sounds condemning, perhaps it will be better if we do not speak. Otherwise instead of helping the person, we may end up causing more harm. Perhaps the already wounded person may have to deal with a double blow. I guess if we got nothing good to say, it may be wise to tame our tongue.


In Job 14, Job continues to petition himself to the Lord. Asking the Lord why but he also understands he has no power to question. He understands that the Lord’s decision is final.


“Do you listen in on God’s council? Do you have a monopoly on wisdom? What do you know that we do not know? What insights do you have that we do not have? The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, men even older than your father.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭15‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  • It’s dangerous when someone speaks like that. Having the thinking that “I know what you know but you may not know what we know, just because we are much older than you.” I would think the older folks would definitely have more life experiences than the younger ones but one may not necessarily be wiser than the younger ones. 
  • Similarly, being an older Christian does not necessarily also mean one is more Christ-like than a new believer. In this sense, the Lord treats everyone with fairness. It all voice down to our own walk with God, which is why salvation belongs to the Lord, and not to you or me.
  • one can be a Christian since young and not know God at all versus one who only came to Christ when they are 70 yrs old and is active in church and reading the bible everyday. It is our hearts that matters. Not what we know.


“The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.”Acts‬ ‭8‬:‭29‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  • Maybe we too find ourselves in a similar situation. That the Lord places us in a place or calls us to a place. He did not tell us what to do next. But by the series of events that happened, Philip kind of knew what he was supposed to do, without being told. Perhaps we are also in a similar place where we are to act on the things that we heard and do what Jesus will do. That is to point others to our Father. 
  • I learned something new today. I always thought I have to hear specific instructions before I can act. However, when I am in a situation where I can do something and have the ability to do something, especially to point people to Christ, it is then up to me to act on it if Jesus was in my place. I need to keep reminding myself or ask myself this question. What would Jesus do if He were here. 
  • I believe there is also a fine balance between doing in our will versus in His will. Praying for the Lord to grant us the discernment like Philip to do the right thing.


“When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.”Acts‬ ‭8‬:‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  • what a divine appointment that the Lord had granted the Eunuch! Philip came all the way for this one guy. It is a reminder how God’s love for us is as well. Going all out to pursue us - the one lost sheep. What have we done to deserve such great love from the Lord God Almighty?!

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Gripped by God

BY OSWALD CHAMBERS

June 28


I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. — Philippians 3:12


Never choose to be a worker for God. But if God has called you, watch out that you don’t “turn to the right or the left” (Proverbs 4:27). We aren’t here to work for God because we have chosen to do so; we’re here because Christ Jesus has taken hold of us. Now that we are in his service, we no longer wonder whether or not we’re cut out for it; we no longer think about what we’d like to preach. What we preach is determined by God, not by our natural inclinations.


Keep your soul steadily related to God and remember why you have been called—not only to give personal testimony but to preach the gospel. Every Christian must testify, but Christians who have received the call to preach have an added responsibility: they must endure the agonizing grip of God’s hand on their lives. Your life is in the grip of God for one thing and one thing only: to answer his call. How many of us are held like that?


Never water down the word of God. Preach it in its undiluted sternness, with unflinching loyalty. But when it comes to dealing with your fellow human beings, remember who you are: not a special being set above the rest, but a sinner saved by grace, a sinner who has yet to obtain the prize. “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).


Job 11-13; Acts 9:1-21


WISDOM FROM OSWALD

The great point of Abraham’s faith in God was that he was prepared to do anything for God.

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Reflections

It is perhaps not called the God’s call for no reason. The Lord chooses. He does not call the qualified but He qualifies the called. He does not look for excellent people who have all the credentials. He looks for someone who may seemed insignificant to fulfil His purpose. Just look at the apostles, none of them sort of qualifies to talk about God but yet, they spread the gospel far and wide. It was never us in the first place but the help of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God


Each of us, given our unique calling, will just have to do what we are called to do. It doesn’t matter how big or how small a task is but it is important that we do it because these are all part of God’s plan. If we don’t cooperate with God, He may just go find another person who is willing, an additional trouble I see, and we fall short of His grace. 


We are all the same, sinners that have fallen from grace but thank God for Jesus who had bridged the gap and allow us to commune with God directly. There was so much grace that was freely given so truly no reason for us to say no, or wait. The Lord didn’t wait to sacrifice Himself for us. If He was just asking us to do something, shouldn’t we say yes to Him without flinching as well? 


As the grace we freely receive, we should also, freely give. The Lord may have given you special gifts, use it for His glory.


Let’s pray:

Father Lord, it is not by chance that we come to know You and be called Your children. We are to bless others like how You have bless us and to love others like how You first loved us. We don’t even know You yet but You gave Your all to us. Being called a child of God is a high calling and I pray that Father, by our thoughts, words and deeds, we do not disappoint You or grief the Holy Spirit. May Lord have mercy on us and grant us discernment and the wisdom to do Your will. All praise and thanks be to You LORD. In Jesus’s most powerful name we pray. Amen 🙏🏻 

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