{"id":2958,"date":"2023-08-28T05:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-27T21:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/?p=2958"},"modified":"2023-08-29T00:47:49","modified_gmt":"2023-08-28T16:47:49","slug":"daily-devotion-august-28-2023-persecutor-to-preacher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/2023\/08\/28\/daily-devotion-august-28-2023-persecutor-to-preacher\/","title":{"rendered":"Daily Devotion (August 28, 2023): Persecutor to Preacher"},"content":{"rendered":"[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.21.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Please read Acts 9<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

15 But the Lord said to him, \u201cGo, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.\u201d 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, \u201cBrother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.\u201d 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened. <\/span>
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Acts 9:15\u201319<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

DEVOTIONAL<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

by Elder Chris Beltran<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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In Jerusalem, Paul was faced with suspicion by the believers because of his previous persecuting activities. However, Barnabas received him and presented his story to the apostles. Moreover, while Paul was zealous in proclaiming the gospel and debating with others, his life was in danger and caused some trouble for the church.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Lord had to first mold Paul and remove certain character traits that did not benefit the Kingdom. So he was sent off back to Tarsus. Sometimes, good intentions may result in negative responses if our passion and zealousness are not well balanced with wisdom and understanding. We need to be equipped, grow, and discipled so that we will become more effective. But even then, for the time being, the church enjoyed a time of peace. They also increased in number because of the power of God to change the life of Paul, from persecutor to fearless preacher of God’s word.<\/span><\/p>\n

If it’s possible with Paul, God can also transform our lives. But first, we should truly have a genuine encounter with Him\u2014a personal relationship with the one true God, and not just based on traditions, practices, and rituals.<\/span><\/p>\n

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PRAYER<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Heavenly Father, we come before You with open hearts, seeking a genuine encounter with You. We ask that You transform our lives just as You transformed Paul’s life, from persecutor to fearless preacher of Your Word. Equip us with wisdom, understanding, and passion for Your Kingdom. May we grow in discipleship and be effective in spreading the gospel. Let Your power be evident in us, drawing others to You and increasing Your Church. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.<\/span><\/p>\n

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TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE Please read Acts 9 15 But the Lord said to him, \u201cGo, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.\u201d 17 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devotionals","category-text-devo"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2958","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2958"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2958\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2961,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2958\/revisions\/2961"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2958"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2958"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}