Weekday Boost June 8

Weekday Boost

New Testament: Acts 13:1-25

Among the members of the church at Antioch there were several prophets and teachers – Barnabas, Simeon who was known by the name of ‘Black’, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, foster-brother of Prince Herod, and Saul. 2While they were engaged in the worship of the Lord and were fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them.” 3Accordingly, after fasting and prayer, they placed their hands on them and dismissed them.

4Barnabas and Saul, sent on this mission, as they were, by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there sailed to Cyprus. 5On reaching Salamis, they began to tell the message of God in the Jewish synagogues; and they had John with them as an assistant. 6After passing through the whole island, they reached Paphos, where they found an astrologer who pretended to be a prophet – a Jew by birth, whose name was Barjoshua. 7He was at the court of the Governor, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who sent for Barnabas and Saul and asked to be told God’s message. 8But Elymas, the astrologer (for that is the meaning of the word), opposed them, eager to divert the Governor’s attention from the faith. 9However, Saul (who is the same as Paul), full of the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes on him and said, 10“You incarnation of deceit and all fraud! You son of the devil! You opponent of all that is good! Will you never cease to divert the straight paths of the Lord? Listen! 11The hand of the Lord is on you even now, and you will be blind for a time and unable to see the sun.” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went feeling about for someone to guide him. 12When the Governor saw what had happened, he became a believer in Christ, being greatly impressed by the teaching about the Lord.

13After this, Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and went to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them and returned to Jerusalem. 14The others went on from Perga and arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. There they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath and took their seats. 15After the reading of the Law and the prophets, the synagogue leader sent them this message – “Friends, if you have any helpful words to address to the people, now is the time to speak.” 16So Paul rose and, motioning with his hand, said:

“People of Israel and all here who worship God, hear what I have to say. 17The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors, and during their stay in Egypt increased the prosperity of the people, and then with uplifted arm brought them out from that land. 18For about forty years he bore with them in the desert; 19then, after destroying seven heathen nations in Canaan, he allotted their land to this people – 20For about four hundred and fifty years. In later times he gave them Judges, of whom the prophet Samuel was the last. 21And, when they demanded a king, God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. 22After removing him, he raised David to the throne, and bore this testimony to him – ‘In David, the son of Jesse, I have found a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my purposes.’ 23It was from this man’s descendants that God, in accordance with his promise, gave Israel a Savior – Jesus; 24John having first proclaimed, before the appearance of Jesus, a baptism on repentance for all the people of Israel. 25As John was drawing towards the end of his career, he said ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not the Christ. But there is “one coming” after me, whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.’

Witness Thursday: Happy Birthday Bear Grylls: 7 quotes from the Chief Scout on faith

Hymn for the Day: Gracious Spirit, Love divine! Let thy light within me shine

Author: John Stocker (1777)

1 Gracious Spirit, Dove divine,
let thy light within me shine;
all my guilty fears remove,
fill me full of heav'n and love.

2 Speak thy pard'ning grace to me,
set the burdened sinner free;
lead me to the Lamb of God,
wash me in his precious blood.

3 Life and peace to me impart;
seal salvation on my heart;
breathe thyself into my breast,
earnest of immortal rest.

4 Let me never from thee stray,
keep me in the narrow way,
fill my soul with joy divine,
keep me, Lord, forever thine.