DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8
WORD OF WISDOM
Y'all better stop disliking people over what you heard, and be thankful God
isn't disliking YOU over what He KNOWS.
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DAILY DEVOTION
God with Us
And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to
weary men, but will ye weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself shall
give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall
call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to
refuse the evil, and choose the good.
Isaiah 7:13-15
Many of the ancient religions of the world told stories of the various gods
and goddesses they worshiped taking on human form and walking among men. The
Greeks, for example, believed that their deities lived on Mount Olympus but
frequently appeared to intervene in the lives of the people. In these
appearances, however, they were anything but divine. They were jealous and
selfish and greedy and immoral as they walked the earth. Their gifts usually
came with strings attached, and if they granted people's wishes, it was
often in a way that damaged the receivers. Being visited by one of these
deities was almost always a disaster for the majority of the people with
whom they interacted.
By contrast, Jesus came to Earth becoming fully human and yet retaining the
perfection and divine nature of God. He set a pattern and example for us,
not of selfish or wicked behavior, but of concern and compassion for others.
He walked every day in accordance with God's law, never breaking any of the
commandments of His Father. Anyone who emulates His life will behave in a
manner that is pleasing to God. Yet Jesus being here on Earth went beyond
that. Because He was human as well as divine, He fully understands what it
is like to be tired and tempted and abandoned. He knows the struggle we face
when we are tempted, for He too was tempted. "For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all
points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). And
ultimately, He gave His life for our redemption.
Only the love of God can explain the reason Jesus came to Earth to be our
Savior.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Peter
Acts 2:1-47 Easy-to-Read Version
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2
Suddenly a noise came from heaven. It sounded like a strong wind blowing.
This noise filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw
something that looked like flames of fire. The flames were separated and
stood over each person there. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit,
and they began to speak different languages. The Holy Spirit was giving them
the power to do this.
5 There were some godly Jews in Jerusalem at this time. They were from every
country in the world. 6 A large crowd came together because they heard the
noise. They were surprised because, as the apostles were speaking, everyone
heard in their own language.
7 They were all amazed at this. They did not understand how the apostles
could do this. They said, "Look! These men we hear speaking are all from
Galilee.[a] 8 But we hear them in our own languages. How is this possible?
We are from all these different places: 9 Parthia, Media, Elam, Mesopotamia,
Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the areas of
Libya near the city of Cyrene, Rome, 11 Crete, and Arabia. Some of us were
born Jews, and others have changed their religion to worship God like Jews.
We are from these different countries, but we can hear these men in our own
languages! We can all understand the great things they are saying about
God."
12 The people were all amazed and confused. They asked each other, "What is
happening?" 13 But others were laughing at the apostles, saying they were
drunk from too much wine.
Peter Speaks to the People
14 Then Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles. He spoke loudly so
that all the people could hear. He said, "My Jewish brothers and all of you
who live in Jerusalem, listen to me. I will tell you something you need to
know. Listen carefully. 15 These men are not drunk as you think; it's only
nine o'clock in the morning. 16 But Joel the prophet wrote about what you
see happening here today. This is what he wrote:
17 'God says: In the last days
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions.
Your old men will have special dreams.
18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit
on my servants, men and women,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will work wonders in the sky above.
I will cause miraculous signs on the earth below.
There will be blood, fire, and thick smoke.
20 The sun will be changed into darkness,
and the moon will be as red as blood.
Then the great and glorious day of the Lord will come.
21 And everyone who trusts in the Lord[b] will be saved.'
22 "My fellow Israelites, listen to these words: Jesus from Nazareth was a
very special man. God clearly showed this to you. He proved it by the
miracles, wonders, and miraculous signs he did through Jesus. You all saw
these things, so you know this is true. 23 Jesus was handed over to you, and
you killed him. With the help of evil men, you nailed him to a cross. But
God knew all this would happen. It was his plan-a plan he made long ago. 24
Jesus suffered the pain of death, but God made him free. He raised him from
death. There was no way for death to hold him. 25 David said this about him:
'I saw the Lord before me always;
he is at my right side to keep me safe.
26 So my heart is happy,
and the words I speak are words of joy.
Yes, even my body will live with hope,
27 because you will not leave me in the place of death.[c]
You will not let the body of your Holy One rot in the grave.
28 You taught me how to live.
You will come close to me and give me great joy.'
29 "My brothers, I can tell you for sure about David, our great ancestor. He
died, was buried, and his tomb is still here with us today. 30 He was a
prophet and knew something that God had said. God had promised David that
someone from his own family would sit on David's throne as king.[d] 31 David
knew this before it happened. That is why he said this about that future
king:
'He was not left in the place of death.
His body did not rot in the grave.'
David was talking about the Messiah rising from death. 32 So Jesus is the
one God raised from death. We are all witnesses of this. We saw him. 33
Jesus was lifted up to heaven. Now he is with God, at God's right side. The
Father has given the Holy Spirit to him, as he promised. So Jesus has now
poured out that Spirit. This is what you see and hear. 34 David was not the
one who was lifted up to heaven. David himself said,
'The Lord God said to my Lord:
Sit at my right side,
35 until I put your enemies under your power.[e]'
36 "So, all the people of Israel should know this for certain: God has made
Jesus to be Lord and Messiah. He is the man you nailed to the cross!"
37 When the people heard this, they felt very, very sorry. They asked Peter
and the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"
38 Peter said to them, "Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each
one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Then God will forgive your sins,
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is for
you. It is also for your children and for the people who are far away. It is
for everyone the Lord our God calls to himself."
40 Peter warned them with many other words; he begged them, "Save yourselves
from the evil of the people who live now!" 41 Then those who accepted what
Peter said were baptized. On that day about 3000 people were added to the
group of believers.
The Believers Share
42 The believers spent their time listening to the teaching of the apostles.
They shared everything with each other. They ate[f] together and prayed
together. 43 Many wonders and miraculous signs were happening through the
apostles, and everyone felt great respect for God. 44 All the believers
stayed together and shared everything. 45 They sold their land and the
things they owned. Then they divided the money and gave it to those who
needed it. 46 The believers shared a common purpose, and every day they
spent much of their time together in the Temple area. They also ate together
in their homes. They were happy to share their food and ate with joyful
hearts. 47 The believers praised God and were respected by all the people.
More and more people were being saved every day, and the Lord was adding
them to their group.
Footnotes
Acts 2:7 from Galilee The people thought men from Galilee could speak only
their own language.
Acts 2:21 who trusts in the Lord Literally, "who calls on the name of the
Lord," meaning to show faith in him by worshiping him or praying to him for
help.
Acts 2:27 place of death Literally, "Hades." Also in verse 31.
Acts 2:30 God had promised . as king See 2 Sam. 7:12, 13 and Ps. 132:11.
Acts 2:35 until I put . power Literally, "until I make your enemies a
footstool for your feet."
Acts 2:42 ate Literally, "broke bread." This may mean a meal or the Lord's
Supper, the special meal Jesus told his followers to eat to remember him.
Also in verse 46. See Lk. 22:14-20.
