“Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs” (Proverbs 19:11 NLT).

July 15, 2022

HAVE YOU LEARNED TO OVERLOOK WRONGS? Are you easily angered or offended? If so, this is not the fault of others as you often feel, but it is your own self-disposition that perceives every word, a dig, and every look, a personal slight. You are looking for offense and you always find it. Give your

‘Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?'” (1 Chronicles 17:16 NLT).

July 14, 2022

WHO ARE WE O LORD THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT US THIS FAR? When David told the prophet Nathan of his desire to build a house for the Lord, the word of the Lord came to Nathan during the night saying that He was instead going to build a house for David. The Lord spoke of

“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God” (Romans 1:20 NLT).

July 13, 2022

CREATION REVEALS THE CREATOR In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, he taught that all humanity was under God’s wrath because they had rejected even the most basic revelation He had given them, namely, creation itself. This is what theologians call General Revelation or Natural Revelation, which is the knowledge of God available to

“One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you” (Romans 1:10 NLT).

July 12, 2022

PAUL’S PRAYER FOR OPPORTUNITY Towards the end of 57 AD, on his third missionary journey, Paul penned this letter to the believers in Rome while he was working in Corinth. He probably heard about the believers in Rome from his new friends, Aquila and Priscilla, who had been deported with other Jews by Claudius Caesar

“As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip” (Acts 28:10 NLT).

July 11, 2022

DISASTER OR DIVINE OPPORTUNITY? Luke wrote how the people on the island of Malta welcomed them with kindness after their ship wrecked on its shores. It must have been a wonderful relief after the terrifying time they had at sea, being blown from Crete to Malta by a storm. The sailors had lost their ship

“The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan” (Acts 27:42-43 NLT).

July 10, 2022

NEITHER SAILOR, NOR SOLDIER, BUT SERVANT OF JESUS When it appeared that Paul and the 276 people aboard the ship would survive the storm, he and his fellow prisoners were threatened by the soldiers. Yet, even in this, God protected Paul, giving him favor with the commanding officer. The storm, the sailors and the soldiers,

“But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul” (Acts 27:11 NLT).

July 9, 2022

OUR INFLUENCE GROWS IN HOW WE FACE STORMS The Roman officer in charge of getting Paul and the other prisoners to Rome showed great favor to Paul, allowing him to travel with his friends, Luke and Aristarchus, and permitting him to go ashore at Sidon to visit friends and get personal supplies. However, his kindness

“Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me” (Acts 26:17-18 NLT).

July 8, 2022

OUR EYE-OPENING ASSIGNMENT Paul gave his faith testimony before the Roman governor Festus and the last of the House of Herod, King Agrippa II and his sister Bernice. In his testimony, he shared the calling that Christ had given him. First, he was sent by Jesus (“I am sending you”). The Greek word for this

“So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in” (Acts 25:23 NLT).

July 7, 2022

PAUL STANDS BEFORE THE POMP AND PROMINENCE OF ROME Porcius Festus was the new Roman governor over Judea. He replaced Felix who had been recalled to Rome by Nero. As a result, Festus inherited the case against the apostle Paul, which Felix had delayed, hoping for a bribe. Historians agree, that overall, Festus was a

“He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5 NLT).

July 6, 2022

DO YOU WEAR THE NAME OF THE NAZARENE? Some of the Jewish leaders who had accused Jesus before Pontius Pilate, now traveled to Caesarea to bring accusation against the apostle Paul before the Roman governor, Marcus Antonius Felix. This time, they hired a Roman orator and attorney named Tertullus to represent their case. He began