Devotional thoughts tagged as: 'Acts'
Doing Good
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; he went about doing good... (Acts 10:38)
The Bible suggests that doing good is a universal command. It is not limited to those we like or those who like me. Doing good is directed at everyone, even those who do not fit my definition of worthy to receive any good that I may direct their way. It is a universal command because no one is exempt from it. The responsibility to do good is a proactive. I must act and not wait to be asked to do good.
Prayer for a Privileged Position
This scripture can be found in Matthew 20: 20-28, and Mark 10: 35-45.
Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshiping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, "What wilt thou?" She said unto him, "Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand and the other on the left, in thy kingdom."
The request of Salome, mother of James and John, was one Christ could not answer and it produced indignation among the other ten disciples.
Salome probably felt she had some basis for her petition. One of her sons, John was known as the disciple whom Jesus loved. Her other son James was one of three who witnessed the Transfiguration of Christ.
Yet Jesus answered Salome, "Ye know not what you ask." James endured the baptism of blood (see Acts 12:2) and John endured persecution and loneliness on Patmos (Revelation 1:9). Let us be careful how we pray. Some answers to our prayer petitions may be costly.
Why Be Baptized?
From the beginning of the church, at Pentecost, Peter issued an invitation to baptism, affirming the promise is for you, for your children and all who are far away. (Acts 2:39) In 1 Peter 1:1-9 we find God has given us a new birth into a living hope through Christ's resurrection. Therefore, our response should be one of love for Christ and belief in him. Note the theme of grace and faith in this passage.
Would it be fair to say that baptism is one outward sign of an inward and spiritual grace? Is there a connection between baptism and salvation?