DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
READ: Acts 9 (Focus vs. 1-6 & 7-20)
MEMORY VERSE
“He . . . heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”” Acts 9:4
BACKGROUND
In September 1963, Welsh artist John Petts heard the news that a racially motivated bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, had killed four African American girls.
Wanting to help, he offered to replace the church’s shattered stained-glass window. The people of Wales soon raised the funds.
Petts’ striking replacement window shows Jesus on the cross, His right hand pressing against the frame to signify His pushing out hatred, and His left hand open, offering forgiveness. Along the bottom of the window run the words, you do it to me.
One wonders who Jesus is talking to in those words—the racist group that killed those four young believers or the Welsh people who donated the window?
Maybe we don’t have to choose. Before his conversion, Saul persecuted Jesus’ disciples (Acts 9:1-2). Yet, when Christ appeared to him, He said, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (v. 4).
Jesus identifies so closely with His people that to harm or bless them is to harm or bless the Lord Himself.
As Saul discovered, Jesus pushes out hatred by offering transforming forgiveness (9:17-20). His right and left hands always work together—and are never taken off the shoulders of His suffering people.
Sheridan Voysey
INSIGHT
Believers in Jesus are distinctively described as “the faithful in Christ” (Ephesians 1:1; see Colossians 1:2). Paul says that we who are “in Christ . . . though many, form one body” (Romans 12:5).
This solidarity between Jesus as “head” of the church, His body (Ephesians 4:15), is clearly affirmed when He warned Saul that an attack on the church was an attack on Him (Acts 9:4-5). In the gospel of Luke, Christ teaches through a parable about helping those in need (10:25-37).
In another parable, He says that whatever help given to believers is a service rendered to Him personally (Matthew 25:40).
Today, we can “do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10) knowing that when we serve those who are suffering, we serve Jesus.
K.T. Sim
APPLICATION
How might Jesus’ example motivate you to serve the persecuted church? How might it change how you view generosity to any believer in need?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post
“Jesus identifies so closely with His people that to harm or bless them is to harm or bless the Lord Himself.” Sheridan Voysey
PR’s TAKE
“Give your hands to serve and your hearts to love.” Mother Theresa
PRAYER
“Dear Jesus, I want to serve You by serving Your suffering people today.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“UNTO ME” Steve Green
I want to be a godly man
Follow the call and follow Your plan
I want to have the purest heart
I want to be a burning spark
Lord, I want to be like You
Tell me, Lord, what must I do
And the answer came
Simple and so plain
Go and find your neighbor
Find a friend in need
Go and find the widow
With a hungry child to feed
When you help the helpless
That is true Christianity
Whatever you’ve done to the least of these
You have done it unto Me
I want to be a faithful son
I want to hear You say, “Well done”
I want to be a pleasing sight
I want to shine a holy light
When I tell them about You
How will they believe the truth
And the answer came
Steady as the rain
Go inside the prison
Go behind the wall
Go and be a servant
There is none too great or small
When you help the helpless
That is true Christianity
Whatever you’ve done to the least of these
You have done it unto Me
You have done it
You have done it unto Me
Go pick up a hammer
Go and build a home
Go and take the Son’s child
To a heart that lives alone
When you help the helpless
That is true Christianity
Whatever you’ve done to the least of these
You have done it
You have done it unto Me
When you help the widow
You have done it unto Me
When you help the helpless
That is true Christianity
You have done it
You have done it unto Me
That is true Christianity
