26/04/2023
Daily Devotion
Wednesday 26/04/23
Memory Verse: Ps 66:18
Bible Reading: Acts 8:1-8
GREAT JOY
A famous preacher told about a Christian woman who was always bright, cheerful, and optimistic, even though she was confined to her room because of illness.
She lived in an attic apartment(the space between the roof and the ceiling of the highest floor of the house. They're usually full of insulation) on the fifth floor of an old, rundown building.
A friend decided to visit her one day and brought along another woman—a person of great wealth.
Since there was no elevator, the two ladies began the long climb upward.
When they reached the second floor, the well-to-do woman commented, “What a dark and filthy place!” Her friend replied, “It’s better higher up.”
When they arrived at the third landing, the remark was made, “Things look even worse here.” Again the reply, “It’s better higher up.”
The two women finally reached the attic level, where they found the bedridden saint of God. A smile on her face radiated the joy that filled her heart.
Although the room was clean and flowers were on the window sill, the wealthy visitor could not get over the stark surroundings in which this woman lived.
She blurted out, “It must be very difficult for you to be here like this!” Without a moment’s hesitation the shut-in responded, “It’s better higher up.”
She was not looking at temporal things.
With the eye of faith fixed on the eternal, she had found the secret of true satisfaction and contentment
Who here likes to have and experience joy? How about giving it?
Joy is experienced in different ways.
Today, we see the church take a difficult path to experiencing and sharing great joy.
Acts 8:8 And there was great joy in that city.
People converted to Christ in Samaria! And there was great joy in the city.
It was reported to the apostles, and they sent Peter and John.
The Gospel is the power of God, the work of the Godhead, that makes possible to salvation of lost sinners. It brings great joy—even to the afflicted.
1) Trust Jesus is advancing His church.
2) Determine you will advance within His church.
3) Obey Christ where He has you and where He directs you.
4) Repent and believe on Christ.
Let’s remember the words of the sweet bed-ridden saint with which we began: “It’s better higher up!”
If we fix our eyes on Jesus and His mission in the church, we can find joy as He advances us through affliction.
The church is bound to experience opposition in some ways. Let us not despair or be surprised.
Be encouraged that Jesus advances His church through affliction. Opposition will not stop the church . . . quite the contrary.
How will Jesus advance His church through you?
Prayers:
1. Father, I thank you; for you turned the counsel of the enemy into foolishness.
2. Father, I thank you; you changed deserts before me into pools of water and dry land into flowing springs.
3. Father, I thank you for the great joy that overflow in my heart
4. Father, I thank you; for you brought me out of their gloom and darkness and broke their chains over my life in pieces.
5. Father, I thank you; you calmed the raging storm, and the waves became quiet.
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