DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 8:
WORD OF WISDOM
God is like Tide detergent...He gets the stains out that others left behind.
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DAILY DEVOTION
A Passion for People
"Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I
say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white
already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit
unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice
together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I
sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and
ye are entered into their labours."
John 4:35-38
After many years of fruitful work with the Salvation Army, the founder,
General William Booth, was invited to a personal audience with Queen
Victoria. The ruler of England had heard about his work in the slums among
the poor, preaching the gospel, and helping those in need. When she asked
for the secret of his success, Booth replied, "Your Majesty, some men have a
passion for money. Some people have a passion for things. I have a passion
for people."
All around us there are people with an eternal destiny who need someone to
give them the good news of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Yet in truth many Christians seldom if ever think about that most pressing
need. Like the disciples who wanted Jesus to send the crowd of people away
without any food, we too often view others as an annoyance or a burden,
rather than seeing them as precious souls for whom Christ died.
The harvest is not waiting to get ripe. The fields are white. Tens of
thousands of people will die today, many of them without ever hearing the
gospel. There are no second chances to accept Christ. If no one reaches them
in this life, they will spend eternity in Hell apart from God. That sobering
truth should motivate us and give us a burning passion for people.
If our hearts are not broken over those who are lost, we do not have the
heart of Jesus.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Acts 1-3New King James Version (NKJV)
Prologue
1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to
do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through
the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,
3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many
infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the
things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
The Holy Spirit Promised
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart
from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said,
"you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you
shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6
Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will
You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 And He said to them, "It
is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own
authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon
you; and you shall be witnesses to Me[a] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Jesus Ascends to Heaven
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up,
and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked
steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in
white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing
up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will
so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
The Upper Room Prayer Meeting
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is
near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. 13 And when they had entered, they
went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and
Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of
Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all
continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,[b] with the women and
Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Matthias Chosen
15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples[c]
(altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,
16 "Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy
Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a
guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17 for he was numbered with us and
obtained a part in this ministry."
18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling
headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. 19
And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is
called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20 "For it is written in the Book of Psalms:
'Let his dwelling place be desolate,
And let no one live in it';[d]
and,
'Let[e] another take his office.'[f]
21 "Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the
Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John
to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness
with us of His resurrection."
23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus,
and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, "You, O Lord, who know the
hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take part in
this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that
he might go to his own place." 26 And they cast their lots, and the lot
fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Coming of the Holy Spirit
2 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord[g]
in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon
each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to
speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The Crowd's Response
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation
under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together,
and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7
Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are
not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in
our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites,
those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10
Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene,
visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs-we hear
them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." 12 So they
were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this
mean?"
13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine."
Peter's Sermon
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to
them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to
you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since
it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the
prophet Joel:
17
'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
18
And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
19
I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
20
The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
21
And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.'[h]
22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by
God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your
midst, as you yourselves also know- 23 Him, being delivered by the
determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken[i] by lawless
hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having
loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be
held by it. 25 For David says concerning Him:
'I foresaw the Lord always before my face,
For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
26
Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;
Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.
27
For You will not leave my soul in Hades,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
28
You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of joy in Your presence.'[j]
29 "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David,
that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30
Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to
him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up
the Christ to sit on his throne,[k] 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke
concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in
Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up,
of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand
of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit,
He poured out this which you now see and hear.
34 "For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:
'The Lord said to my Lord,
"Sit at My right hand,
35
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'[l]
36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made
this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter
and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your
children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will
call."
A Vital Church Grows
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be
saved from this perverse generation." 41 Then those who gladly[m] received
his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added
to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came
upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and
sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had
need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread
from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of
heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord
added to the church[n] daily those who were being saved.
A Lame Man Healed
3 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer,
the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was
carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called
Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing
Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing
his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." 5 So he gave them his
attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said,
"Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." 7 And he took him by the
right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones
received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the
temple with them-walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people
saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat
begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with
wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Preaching in Solomon's Portico
11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the
people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly
amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of
Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though
by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant
Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he
was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just,
and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of
life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And His
name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and
know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect
soundness in the presence of you all.
17 "Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your
rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His
prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent
therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times
of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may
send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before,[o] 21 whom heaven must
receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken
by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses
truly said to the fathers, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a
Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things,
whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not
hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.'[p] 24
Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have
spoken, have also foretold[q] these days. 25 You are sons of the prophets,
and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And
in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'[r] 26 To you
first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in
turning away every one of you from your iniquities."
Footnotes:
a.Acts 1:8 NU-Text reads My witnesses.
b.Acts 1:14 NU-Text omits and supplication.
c.Acts 1:15 NU-Text reads brethren.
d.Acts 1:20 Psalm 69:25
e.Acts 1:20 Psalm 109:8
f.Acts 1:20 Greek episkopen, position of overseer
g.Acts 2:1 NU-Text reads together.
h.Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32
i.Acts 2:23 NU-Text omits have taken.
j.Acts 2:28 Psalm 16:8-11
k.Acts 2:30 NU-Text omits according to the flesh, He would raise up the
Christ and completes the verse with He would seat one on his throne.
l.Acts 2:35 Psalm 110:1
m.Acts 2:41 NU-Text omits gladly.
n.Acts 2:47 NU-Text omits to the church.
o.Acts 3:20 NU-Text and M-Text read Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you
before.
p.Acts 3:23 Deuteronomy 18:15, 18, 19
q.Acts 3:24 NU-Text and M-Text read proclaimed.
r.Acts 3:25 Genesis 22:18; 26:4; 28:14
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James VersionR. Copyright C 1982 by Thomas
Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
