Daily Devotional

A Ministry of the Kerwin Baptist Church

February 14, 2019

by Pastor Hawtree

BIBLE READING: ACTS 17

2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

“REASONED WITH THEM OUT OF THE SCRIPTURES”
Paul had established a habit in his life. His “manner” was to always discuss spiritual matters with people by opening God’s Word, and seeing what God had to say about things.

He had a habit of “OPENING” God’s Word. So often we use our own reasoning, our own experience, and our own knowledge to try to convince people of spiritual truth. That never seems to work. And if it does work, it will only be temporary. But when we use God’s Word, it makes all the difference. Why? Because God’s Word is alive, and sharp, and powerful as a two-edged sword. It pierces even to the dividing asunder of a person’s soul and a person’s spirit.

He had a habit of “REASONING” out of God’s Word. Paul would study it, and figure it out, and learn how to make things clear. Paul would not only use God’s Word, he would explain God’s Word, and then let God‘s Word do the changing. That is what you and I should be doing.

He had a habit of “ALLEGING” the truth of God’s Word. This word means to literally present something to someone else, to commit to someone, to literally lay something in front of someone. Paul would lay out the truth of God’s Word to individuals and leave it with them. What was the truth that he laid out? “That Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.” Paul would present the gospel clearly from God’s Word, and leave it to the individual, and let God‘s Word work on them. What was the result? “Some of them believed…a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.” Notice not everyone believed, but many did. May you and I be faithful to “reason from the scriptures”. May we open it, teach it, and share it.