Christ Church Daily Devotion Oct 18 2023

The Daily Devotion for October 18, 2023, focuses on Acts 11:19-26. It tells the story of how believers were scattered due to persecution and traveled to different places, spreading the word among Jews. However, some men from Cyprus and Cyrene went to Antioch and shared the good news with Greeks as well. Many people believed, and the church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch. Barnabas encouraged the believers and brought Saul to help teach. They stayed in Antioch for a year, and it was there that the disciples were first called Christians. This story shows how the believers were led by the Holy Spirit to reach beyond their comfort zone. The devotion emphasizes the importance of sharing the good news with others. Welcome to Christ Church's Daily Devotion for October 18, 2023. Today we will be reading from Acts chapter 11 verses 19 through 26. Now those who had been scattered to the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. News of this reached the church of Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. This week's devotionals are focusing on our sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others. The book of Acts begins with Jesus telling his followers to go be his witnesses near and far, to the ends of the earth. Jesus says in Acts chapter 1 verse 8, In the verses prior to today's verses, Peter is telling the story of the vision he had three times of the large sheet coming down from heaven. On this sheet he saw four footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds. And he heard a voice telling him, Get up Peter, kill and eat. Peter replied that nothing impure or unclean had ever entered his mouth. Then the voice spoke from heaven a second time, Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. Peter and the others listening to his story realized that the message of the good news of Jesus Christ was to be shared with the Gentile people. The ones sent to Antioch were there for a whole year meeting with the church and teaching the people. This is the first place the believers were called Christians. For the ones sent to Antioch, they were led by the Holy Spirit to move beyond their comfort zone. This is one scene where Jesus' mission was being fulfilled. Today's personal worship option, Precious Father, may your children live the yearning of your heart for all people to know your grace offered to them in Jesus. In whose name I pray, amen.