by Pauline Simonsen
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished (Acts 9:20,21).
Read Acts 9:19b–31
What to do with the new Saul? He confounds everyone.
Instead of enforcing strict Judaism in the synagogues of Damascus and breathing murder against Jesus’ followers, Saul sits in the synagogues preaching that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God!
Instead of hounding down Jesus' followers, he baffles the Jews with proofs from the Old Testament Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah!
How quickly things change when the Lord Jesus speaks his powerful word. Saul has made a radical u-turn, a metanoia or mind-transformation. He is no longer the darling of the Jewish leaders. Rather he is a walking challenge to every group he encounters.
The Jews of Damascus conspire to kill him, and he must escape in a basket over the city walls.
The Christ-followers in Jerusalem are too frightened to meet him, expecting the old Jesus-hating Saul. It’s only with Barnabas’ endorsement that they accept him.
As he preaches in Jerusalem, the Grecian Jews try to kill him. The believers get him out of the city and send him back to his birthplace in Asia Minor.
Saul has become like his Lord Jesus, rejected by his own people, too challenging for everyone, and nowhere to call his home. This will be his path for the rest of his life, walking a pilgrim road of suffering with Jesus.
But for the young church, Saul’s conversion ushers in a new season of peace and growth (Acts 9:31).
And we Gentile Christians know the fruit of his life, for we have the gospel largely because of Saul’s ministry.
And for Saul himself, this pilgrim path was his greatest joy:
I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ … I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings (Philippians 3:8–10).
As Jesus keeps calling you and me daily to follow him, he doesn’t promise us a path of roses, but a narrow path, often marked by suffering.
But as we walk it with him, he works his fruit through our lives and gives us peace and joy in his company!
Lord Jesus, keep us walking our pilgrim lives with you, knowing joy and fulfillment in your presence, even when the road is hard. When we feel rejected by others, remind us that we are hidden in you and that you are working your fruitful purposes through us. Amen.
Pauline Simonsen is the dean of Emmaus, a Christian training provider for adults in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Pauline is also a spiritual director and enjoys leading retreats or guest speaking for the wider Christian church. She is married to Roger, and they live with two much-loved cats in the beautiful Manawatu region of New Zealand.
by Pauline Simonsen
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel (Acts 9:15).
ReadActs 9:10-19a
Meet one of my Bible heroes: Ananias!
This is the only time we meet him, ‘a disciple living in Damascus’. Later Paul describes him as ‘a devout observer of the law, highly respected’ (Acts 22:12). Most importantly, he knows and loves and follows the Lord Jesus.
And what a world-changing task his Lord gives him! To Ananias, it’s a terrifying task: go to Saul of Tarsus, and lay hands on him to heal his blindness.
Ananias knows about Saul: he is the bogeyman of Christ-followers everywhere, come now to persecute Jesus’ people here in Damascus. Surely the Lord wouldn’t send Ananias to this man – into the very mouth of the lion?!
The Lord’s response to Ananias’ profound misgivings is direct. ‘Go!’ God has chosen Saul as his strategic vessel to carry Jesus’ name to the Gentiles. And now Saul will suffer much for Jesus’ sake.
Ananias has a choice. He could ignore this fearful command; pass the vision off as a crazy dream; talk himself out of what he is hearing. It would certainly be the sensible, safer option.
But Jesus’ powerful word speaks courage and compassion into Ananias. Without further argument, he goes to Saul, right into the house, right up to the bogeyman, places his hands on him, and calls him ‘brother’. Wow! That’s the love and grace of Jesus, flowing through Ananias to shattered Saul, who has been praying and hoping for this Ananias to come to him.
Imagine if Ananias had said no? He would’ve missed this empowering by Jesus’ Spirit, this flow of boldness and mercy. He would’ve missed this extraordinary encounter of grace. Thank God for Ananias, the obedient man who did as his Lord commanded and brought God’s grace and healing to broken Saul. The scales fall from Saul’s eyes – he sees clearly, physically and spiritually. He is baptised and filled with the Holy Spirit. He is reborn into the life of God, for ministry.
Ananias fades from the picture. But the world is changed because of his faithful obedience.
Only God knows how through history the quiet courage and service of his unknown disciples have enabled the great works of God to be done.
When you hear his word to you, no matter how challenging, let that word fill you and hold you and empower you for whatever he calls you to do.
It might change someone’s world.
Open my ears to hear you, Lord Jesus, and my heart and will to receive your word to me. Help me to obey you, whatever and whomever you call me to. And when I tremble, speak courage to me! Amen.
Pauline Simonsen is the dean of Emmaus, a Christian training provider for adults in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Pauline is also a spiritual director and enjoys leading retreats or guest speaking for the wider Christian church. She is married to Roger, and they live with two much-loved cats in the beautiful Manawatu region of New Zealand.
by Pauline Simonsen
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? … I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting (Acts 9:4b,5b).
Read Acts 9:1–9
If ever a man needed a powerful intervention in his life, Saul did. His whole existence was built on passionate adherence to Judaism. He lived and breathed it, and when it was threatened by the surviving followers of Jesus of Nazareth, Saul opposed them with every fibre of his being. Read Acts 22:3–5! Carrying letters of authority from the high priest himself, Saul takes the purge into other cities, to Damascus. He is a merciless foe to Christ-followers everywhere.
Imagine him on his two-week walk to Damascus. The single-minded focus, the fierce determination. Refining his murderous plans for the days ahead. His absolute certainty of the rightness of his purpose and actions.
Did he converse much with his fellow travellers? As he recited Old Testament scriptures to himself, what did he pray?
And then, the risen, ascended Lord Jesus intervenes in Saul’s life. His travelling party is all struck down by a light from heaven, brighter than the noonday sun. Saul hears a voice speaking in Hebrew Aramaic – words only Saul needed to understand. ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? … I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.’
Can we even begin to imagine the impact of those words on Saul? His utter confusion and disbelief? The appalling realisation that if Jesus is alive, is God, then Saul has completely misunderstood everything. His world is shaken to its very foundations.
Blinded Saul is led by the hand into the city, vulnerable, humbled, and shattered. For three days he is like a dead man, not eating or drinking, not seeing.
But beginning to see.
Seeing how all his certainty was quite wrong; how his religion has blinded him to his God. Beginning to see Jesus. Three days in the grave, as his old life dies around him, in him.
The shattering of Saul always sobers me. I remember the times when I have been convinced of my rightness, utterly sure of the correctness of my way – only to discover with shock that I was plain wrong. Or misguided. Or didn’t have all the facts or know the whole story. And in my judgement of others, I was judging Jesus.
So the Lord Jesus speaks into my life, shining his words of truth into me, and I die again to my ego. And am reborn into grace, and his life.
Lord Christ, forgive me when in my blind certainty I have judged and condemned others – and so hurt you. Shine your truth and grace into me, Lord Jesus, and save me from myself. Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen.
Pauline Simonsen is the dean of Emmaus, a Christian training provider for adults in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Pauline is also a spiritual director and enjoys leading retreats or guest speaking for the wider Christian church. She is married to Roger, and they live with two much-loved cats in the beautiful Manawatu region of New Zealand.
by Pauline Simonsen
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptised him. The eunuch … went on his way rejoicing (Acts 8:38,39b).
Read Acts 8:26–40
‘I am the treasurer of Ethiopia, in the service of the great Queen Candace for many years now. You know of her, surely? I worship the God of the Hebrews, and every year my gracious Queen allows me to come here to Jerusalem, to the temple of the Lord Almighty.
‘But you know, I am a eunuch, and it is written in the Hebrew law that “no-one who has been emasculated … may enter the assembly of the Lord” [Deut 23:1]. This is deeply grieving to me. I have bought a scroll of Isaiah for the Queen’s library, and I am reading it in my carriage returning home. The great prophet writes of a “servant” who will bring justice with wisdom and will be a light for all nations – for Ethiopia! But the servant will suffer terribly and be killed for our transgressions. He is like me – cut off from family with no descendants to carry on his name. I don’t understand then how he can be a light for us all …?’
‘Something astonishing has just happened! A man came suddenly by my carriage, so we stopped and spoke together. This man, Philip, explained the scroll to me. He said that the “servant” is a man called Jesus of Nazareth, who was revealed as the Son of the Lord Almighty. He did many mighty works and spoke with great wisdom. But he was put to death. Philip was his disciple, and saw him killed, but also – amazing! – saw him alive again!
‘And the best news is this: Jesus, this Christ, welcomes all into his kingdom! Phillip showed me writing later in the Isaiah scroll: “For this is what the Lord says:
‘To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant— to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever’” [Is 56:4,5]. ‘It is this Jesus whose name will last forever, as the Son of God – and I am baptised into his family now, so I carry his name! I belong to the Lord Almighty forever – they are my family now! Is it not wonderful? ‘I am going to tell my Queen of this great news!’
Thank you, gracious God, that we who were far off have been brought into your family through Jesus your Son. Thank you that we all are welcome, with our backgrounds and baggage. Thank you for giving us your name and a place in your house forever! Amen.
Pauline Simonsen is the dean of Emmaus, a Christian training provider for adults in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Pauline is also a spiritual director and enjoys leading retreats or guest speaking for the wider Christian church. She is married to Roger, and they live with two much-loved cats in the beautiful Manawatu region of New Zealand.
by Pauline Simonsen
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known … he said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!’ (Mark 6:14a,16b).
Read Mark 6:14–29
King Jesus has come, bringing his kingdom of healing and peace. Of shalom! In Mark 5, we watch as the king speaks his powerful words and frees a man from a hell of demon possession and a woman from a hell of physical infirmity and social exclusion. He raises a child from death. Then, King Jesus sends his disciple ambassadors to the common people to spread the shalom. These ambassadors are penniless and homeless but carry the king’s word of authority and power that brings life. People are healed and released into this kingdom of Shalom!
And then we see King Herod.
What contrasting kings!
What contrasting kingdoms!
The evil King Herod brings only death. His kingdom is one of greed, lust and selfish corruption. His ambassadors are wined and dined in the palace and entertained with dancing girls. The evil king’s words are foolish, and his drunken oath leads to a man’s death – the same man who spoke words of truth to Herod that strangely stirred him. Still, Herod has him killed, his will in service to a dancing girl and a vengeful wife.
Even as Herod presents to the girl the ‘fruit’ of his actions – John the Baptist’s head on a platter – Jesus’ disciples in the next verses present to King Jesus the fruit of their actions: repentant people, healed people, freed people.
Two kings – one evil, one good.
Two kingdoms – one of death, one of life.
What a stark contrast the evangelist Mark makes in these chapters! He asks an urgent question: whose kingdom do you belong to? Who is your king?
Thank God, the true king has come to us and claimed us. He spoke his powerful word that calls us to repentance. He gave his life so we can have life. He joined us to himself in baptism. He empowered us with his Spirit. He feeds us with his living bread. And he gives us his rest (Mark 6:31).
Long live King Jesus!
Open our eyes, Lord Jesus, to you as our true king and to the work of your kingdom in us and through us. Take your rightful place as Lord of our lives, and make us bearers of your shalom to those around us. Amen.
Pauline Simonsen is the dean of Emmaus, a Christian training provider for adults in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Pauline is also a spiritual director and enjoys leading retreats or guest speaking for the wider Christian church. She is married to Roger, and they live with two much-loved cats in the beautiful Manawatu region of New Zealand.
by Pastor Matt Bishop
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in the land (Psalm 85:9).
Read Psalm 85:8–13
Many people think Christmas goes on too long. Are you one of them? If so, you probably hate the idea of Christmas in July. I quickly get over the crass commercialism of Christmas, but I ‘crazy love’ the Christian celebration behind it. So, a Christmas in July function – like the one my congregation is having today – is more than fun and being together. It is another chance to soak up the good news of God’s Son coming to dwell among us in human flesh so he could die for our sins and give us his flourishing life.
‘Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land’ (Psalm 85:8). It’s as though the psalm is written as a celebration of the Christmas message. Think of the Christ-baby coming near, and the angels over the field singing, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to those on whom his favour rests’ (Luke 2:1–20; see Psalm 85:1 for ‘favour’).
Verse 11 almost provides a narrative of the Son connecting with his Father during his earthly life: ‘Faithfulness springs up from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.’ You can imagine ‘faithfulness’, the Son, down on earth, communing with his Father, ‘righteousness’, in heaven, through prayer, obedience and devotion.
And so, quite famously, ‘Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other’ (verse 10). The Father and the Son, the Spirit through them, are pleased with their work of Christmas and the pending salvation of humanity it will unleash. Indeed, we are privileged to join in the celebratory affection embodied in the ongoing greeting to us that this kiss represents.
Therefore, I love a little Christmas every day. Christmas is God’s hidden reality we live in, even as the things of this world obscure and attack it. Therefore, ‘I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants – but let them not turn to folly’ (verse 8).
Thank you, Lord, for the obedience of the Son by which he became one of us so that we may know your righteousness and be eternally greeted by your holy kiss of affection. Keep bringing this truth to us by the work of your Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Matt Bishop serves at St Paul Lutheran Church and primary school at Blair Athol SA. He is having a pretty full year supervising Vicar Sean Hotinski and chairing the General Pastors Conference planning committee and conference. That’s why he goes fishing to unwind – the beautiful Venus Bay on the Eyre Peninsula being a favourite spot.
by Sean Hotinski
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God (Acts 8:21).
Read Acts 8:1b–13
Yesterday, we heard of Simon the Magician’s conversion to Christianity. In today’s devotion, we hear of his quick spiral into confusion. When Simon saw Peter and John giving people the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands, he offered them money to ‘purchase’ this gift so that he could do likewise.
Peter was furious in response and sharply rebuked him. ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!’ (Acts 8:20). These are probably the harshest words of Peter. Perhaps Peter learned for himself the value of a sharp rebuke when Jesus said to him, ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ after Peter tried to convince Jesus to avoid the cross (Mark 8:33). Now, it’s Peter’s turn to correct someone’s error: we cannot purchase anything of God with money.
Sometimes, unfortunately, we can be a bit like Simon. It’s easy to think that money can solve all our problems in the church. For example, we might think that the church’s ministry and mission will sort itself out just by giving financially. It’s true some genuinely can only help this way (due to health problems or other reasons), and their service is something we thank God for. The problem arises when money becomes the solution in people’s minds rather than our Holy Spirit-led evangelism or acts of service, even when we’re capable of it. But Peter taught Simon a valuable lesson: money can’t buy everything. The Holy Spirit is a free gift of God. Sure, the Spirit can use ‘our’ money to the glory of God and the furthering of his work, but never to buy faith and the works of Christ. Those are free, undeserved gifts of God’s grace, which no amount of money could ever be enough to purchase.
Ultimately, the key focus in life must always be following our Lord Jesus Christ in faith. That is where we begin with solving problems in the church and the Christian life. Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not lean on your understanding (or money!). Trust that as you follow Jesus, he will make the path clear in life.
Lord Jesus Christ, you know all things. Forgive me for times when I think money can solve my problems and the church's problems. Forgive me for all the times when I don’t go to you first and foremost in all my troubles or worries. Guide me in the path you want me to take in life. Make me the person you want me to be. In your holy name, I pray, Amen.
by Sean Hotinski
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Simon himself believed and was baptised … astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw (Acts 8:13).
Read Acts 8:1b–13
In Tuesday’s devotion, we heard that the signs and wonders performed by Stephen weren’t enough to convince his Jewish opponents, the Sanhedrin, about the truth of Christianity. They stoned Stephen to death.
Here, Philip (not one of the twelve but one of the seven) performs wonders and signs amongst the Samaritans – people who were hostile to the Jews and vice versa – and yet, surprisingly, the opposite happens. Not only do they listen to him attentively, but many of them also even believe him and put their faith in Jesus. What happens here defies all reason and logic and is truly a miracle of the Holy Spirit.
Simon was a pagan magician who practised magic in Samaria and was even called by the people ‘the power of God that is called Great’ (Acts 8:10). But when this influential pagan heard Philip preach about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, he also believed and was baptised (Acts 8:13).
What we learn in all of this is that God’s ways are not our ways. We have our thoughts and ideas about people. We think we know who we’ve figured out – whether or not they’ll accept the gospel. But the Lord alone knows. The Lord can make Christians out of the people we thought would never change. The Lord can defy our notions of what seems logical or reasonable to accomplish his good and gracious purposes.
Keep in mind that this happened after Stephen’s martyrdom and the persecution that drove the disciples out of Jerusalem. As a grain of wheat only bears much fruit when it falls into the earth and dies (John 12:24), sometimes we have to face rejection from unbelievers before we see the results of the gospel. But that’s okay: when we tell others about Jesus, we’re serving God above all, not people. It is God who commends us for our work, and it is God who works through our witness for his good and gracious purposes.
Heavenly Father, sometimes I see opportunities to talk with others about Jesus, but I don’t because I’m afraid of rejection. Please forgive me for my cowardice. I pray that You fill me with your Holy Spirit so that when the time is right, I can tell people what you would want me to tell them in the way that you would want me to say it. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.
Sean Hotinski is from Perth, Western Australia. He is currently in Adelaide with his wife, Olya, studying to be a pastor, and is doing vicarage at St Paul Lutheran Church, Blair Athol. In his spare time, Sean enjoys reading and studying the Bible, looking into Christian apologetics, game design, and going on walks.
by Sean Hotinski
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them’ (Acts 7:60a).
Read Acts 7:17–29
We’re now at the final part of Stephen’s speech, where he concludes his defence before the Sanhedrin. In response to their charges that Stephen has blasphemed the temple, Stephen quotes Isaiah, saying the temple itself cannot contain God. He then accuses the Jews of betraying and murdering Jesus, just like their ancestors, who did the same to the prophets.
Amazingly, we’re told that just before the Jewish leaders stoned Stephen to death, Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God in heaven (Acts 7:55,56). Jesus fulfilled his promise not only to Stephen but also to all Christian disciples when he said the Holy Spirit would teach them what to say when they are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities (Luke 12:11,12).
Stephen died what we would call a ‘Christian death’. That is, he died at peace with himself and having forgiven others, which was the same way in which our Lord Jesus died (Luke 23:34, 46). Even though Stephen had every right to be resentful towards his enemies, he chose instead to forgive them and leave his fate securely in God’s hands.
This ‘Christian death’ is the sort of death every Christian should want to die. This isn’t a morbid thought, nor does it only apply to martyrdom. It applies to every day of our lives, because every day, death is a real possibility.
This should impact how we live day-to-day life. It should affect how we proclaim the gospel. It should give us assurance in Jesus as our only hope and Saviour in life. It should even empower us to say ‘I love you’ each night to our loved ones before we go to sleep.
I’m sure Stephen didn’t expect to die when he got out of bed that morning. But he did. And it can happen to us, too. So, love those who are closest to you. Tell them that you love them each night before you go to sleep. And, above all, before the beginning and end of each day, be at peace with God and forgive others.
Lord Jesus, I commit my life and all I have into your hands. Grant that I may continue doing this all the days of my life, by your grace at work in me. In your name, I pray. Amen.
Sean Hotinski is from Perth, Western Australia. He is currently in Adelaide with his wife, Olya, studying to be a pastor, and is doing vicarage at St Paul Lutheran Church, Blair Athol. In his spare time, Sean enjoys reading and studying the Bible, looking into Christian apologetics, game design, and going on walks.