“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
“ The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
“Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
“For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish” (Psalms 1:1-6 KJV).
After the descent of the Holy Spirit, when the disciples went forth to proclaim a living Saviour, their one desire was the salvation of souls. They rejoiced in the sweetness of communion with saints. They were tender, thoughtful, self-denying, willing to make any sacrifice for the truth’s sake. In their daily association with one another, they revealed the love that Christ had enjoined upon them. By unselfish words and deeds they strove to kindle this love in other hearts.
Such a love the believers were ever to cherish. They were to go forward in willing obedience to the new commandment. So closely were they to be united with Christ that they would be enabled to fulfill all His requirements. Their lives were to magnify the power of a Saviour who could justify them by His righteousness. AA 547.2-AA 547.4
To read more in common language and in storyline format about the acts of the apostles, after they were filled with the Holy Spirit, visit this link to a book titled Acts of the Apostles, from where the two paragraphs above were sourced:
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for Jesus. Thank You that we have hope through the perfect example of His life. Please bless us to believe His perfect life of righteousness may be ours for the asking. We ask in the name of Jesus. We claim it. We believe. Let it be so and seen in our lives, as it was among the converted apostles and disciples, once Jesus was risen and they were bathed in Holy Spirit power. Thank You, for we pray in the worthy and powerful name of Jesus on this Thy holy Sabbath. Amen.
If you normally receive these devotionals as a text, please note that several emergencies happened to interrupt the normal sequence of delivery.
I expect more interruptive challenges in 2024, as I coordinate seminars and conferences online or onsite in February, March, April, June, August, September, October, and November. Visit https://www.ucheepines.org/events
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where devotionals are first posted. From there devotionals are shared to my page on FB, LinkedIn, and Signal (in Stories).
NOTE: These devotionals began as daily texts to encourage my academy roommate and dear friend of nearly 50 years, until she suddenly passed Feb 2023. Now I continue to compile and send them to anyone who will receive them and to her family in honor of their mom.
It is a prayerful process that may lead me to share from my personal study a Bible verse or passage and suitable commentary (or vice versa) and add a prayer. Some days, only a Scripture and prayer are ordered. I might even add a song.
Lately, I have begun featuring consecutive chapter portions of a select Bible-based book.
If you agree to continue receiving them, then this is my personal gift to you and in this way, I not only honor God but the memory of a very dear friend whom I desperately miss.
These are posted at baiom.org and shared on FaceBook and LinkedIn. I also text to my family, other loved ones, and contacts that add up to more than 120.
My personal prayer is that God will bless me to find ways to multiply this gift, so that we all may be encouraged to be found faithful in the sight of a Holy God, whenever Christ returns or our eyes are shut in the sleep of death.
So please feel free to forward to your loved ones or to anyone, as God leads you. I’m calling them Barb’s Devotionals.
Also Note! If at any time you prefer to stop receiving these as texts, then simply reply “Stop.”