Monday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 9:1-2
Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
Commentary:
9:1–2 The account of Saul resumes from 8:3. Saul’s papers from the high priest may have been official extradition documents or letters of introduction to the synagogues at Damascus. It is not known how Christianity had come to Damascus—perhaps through converts at Pentecost or by some of those “scattered” following Stephen’s martyrdom (8:1). This is the first time in Acts that Christians are described as belonging to the Way (Gk. hodos, “road, highway, way of life”), meaning either the way of salvation (16:17; cf. Jesus’ teachings in Matt. 7:14; John 14:6) or the true way of life in relation to God (cf. Acts 18:25–26; cf. Ps. 1:1, 6; 27:11). The expression also occurs at Acts 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22.
Questions:
- In Acts 9, we see that Saul is still wreaking havoc on the church. He is full of zeal and passion for the mission he was on - destroying the church. No doubt he believed in this mission with all his heart. He was sincere! But he was sincerely WRONG. This is misdirected zeal. This is true for all of us before we come to faith. We are sincerely wrong, loving and pursuing the wrong things, serving ourselves and believing we know what is best. What are some things that you used to be sincerely wrong about before you met Jesus? How did your perspective on things shift once your eyes were opened to the truth?
- Even as believers, we can deceive ourselves. The fact is, we all have blind spots. We can fall into the trap of thinking we know best. We can forget that, as Jesus followers, we are supposed to be living in obedience to God and His Word. We can believe lies over the truth. How can you make sure we are keeping our thoughts, beliefs and attitudes in line with God's Word?
Prayer Topics:
- That your eyes would remain open to the truth.
- That you would believe the truth of the Word over your own truth.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
6. Is the Bible God’s Word? Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead and said the Old Testament was God’s Word and gave authority to the Apostles to write the words of the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that all the words of the Bible are God’s Word.
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
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