The Savior Jesus

June 24

(Acts 13:23-26 NIV) ““From this man's descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. {24} Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. {25} As John was completing his work, he said: 'Who do you think I am? I am not that one. No, but he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.' {26} "Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.””

(Luke 2:11 NIV) “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

(Matthew 4:17 NIV) ““From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.””

(Acts 2:38 NIV) ““Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.””

God has sent us a Savior -- the Savior Jesus. God’s grace-filled salvation message came to Earth in person as angels declared, “Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you.” John preached that Christ was coming and that people should repent and be baptized. When Jesus came, He too called people to repentance. And after Christ’s resurrection, Peter preached repentance unto salvation, calling people to turn to God and be baptized. The gospel message is consistent. God sent us a Savior. We are not worthy to untie the sandals of this Savior, yet He declared with His life that we are worth being saved. The gift of salvation has been sent to the children of Abraham and all God-fearing Gentiles. How can we not accept such a spectacular gift of love from our Creator? Believe, repent, and receive the Savior Jesus. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Guide and Provider

June 23

(Acts 13:16-22 NIV) ““Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: "Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! {17} The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country, {18} he endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert, {19} he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance. {20} All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. {21} Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. {22} After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: “I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.””

(Nehemiah 9:19-21 NIV) “Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. {20} You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. {21} For forty years you sustained them in the desert; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen.”

If we listen to God, He will guide us and provide for us, even in the deserts of life. God is real and wants a relationship with us. In the past He freed His people from bondage in Egypt, and led them through the desert to the Promised Land. He provided food and water for them every day. He provided light to guide them at night. In these last days, God has sent His Son as a light, and He calls people to follow Him. Those who have listened and believed have become His church. Christ not only sees them as followers, He calls them His Bride. If you are reading these words today as a believer, you are the Bride of Christ. He wants to be your guide and provider. Are you following Him? Are you faithful to him? If you are not a follower of Jesus, He is calling you. God is real and wants to have a relationship with you. Jesus will guide you and provide for you. He will light up your darkness. Answer His call. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Transformed to Preach

June 22

(Acts 13:13-16 NIV) ““From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. {14} From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. {15} After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak." {16} Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said:””

(1 Corinthians 9:16-23 NIV) “Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! {17} If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. {18} What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it. {19} Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. {20} To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. {21} To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. {22} To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. {23} I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”

When Paul and Barnabas reached Pisidian Antioch, Paul got a request that every preacher loves to hear: “If you have a message, please speak.” Saul the persecutor has become Paul the preacher. When Jesus takes hold of our life, He changes us so much that our old names don’t fit anymore. Paul had experienced the transforming power of Jesus and was determined that the world should hear the gospel message. When he heard about Christ’s call to “go and make disciples”, he believed God and set out to intentionally evangelize as many as he could. And so Saul the murderer became Paul the missionary. Has Jesus transformed your life? He doesn’t change us just so our life will be better… He changes us so that we can preach the gospel in some way to someone. We may never step behind a pulpit, but we are all called to share the gospel somewhere. Go! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

He Believed

June 21

(Acts 13:12 NIV) "When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord."

(Galatians 3:5-9 NIV) "Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? {6} Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." {7} Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. {8} The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." {9} So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith."

When God opened the proconsul’s eyes to see the works of the Lord, he was amazed at Paul’s teaching, and he believed. “He believed!” -- two of the most beautiful words in Scripture. Paul was bold in his proclamation and it opened the way for the proconsul to believe. This is still our calling today -- to open the way for people to believe God. We are called to witness to God’s glory in our worship, our giving, our testimony, our love, our prayers, and our service. When we live this way on a daily basis, a way is opened up for people to believe. Those with eyes to see, come to faith and see Jesus. We can partner with the Lord. Does your life’s witness open the way for people to come to Jesus, or does it close the door in their faces? Strive to live in a way that blesses others and opens the way to God. Pray that you get to hear those two most beautiful words: “He (or she) believed.” -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day