DEVOTIONAL
A Transformed People

Have you ever had a major status change? Maybe you graduated from school, became a parent, or got a promotion at work. It can be disorienting waking up the next morning and everything has changed.

We all go through an instant status change when we become Christians. Whatever labels others might put on us—or we might put on ourselves—God chooses to offer us transformation and give us a new identity as people of light, His beloved children. We read this in John’s gospel:

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. We are all children of God."
John 1:12-13 NIV

In 1 Peter 2:9-10, Peter also uses other descriptions, saying that we have become a royal priesthood and a holy people. God sought us out even when we were stuck in our own ways, and transformed us by His Spirit. Instead of being held captive by our past, we are blameless and free in Him.

The word “people” is important. This isn’t just about us as individuals. We are now part of God’s family, called to be in relationship with one another. We don’t have to go on the journey of following Jesus alone. We are given the gift of brothers and sisters who are often very different from ourselves. Through and with them, we see aspects of God we could never have discovered alone.

We are invited to see every person as someone made in God’s image, and to be curious about their story. Who are the people who come to mind whose story you don’t know so well?

Spend some time thanking God for welcoming you with open arms into His family. Think of a few ways that you could show others that they are welcome and valued this week.

Ordinary Men, chapter 14, page 122
'This decree was at least partly in response to the pleas of German public health officials in Poland, who realized that only the most draconian punishment could deter starving Jews from spreading the typhus epidemic that was ravaging the ghettos.'

Typhus, like the Spanish flu was created by vaccines and like today with the covid flu, the vaccinated are being ravaged, but the legal system is passing laws to cause the unvaccinated to die before a private tribunal which is the cops in front of you. Nothing is new under the sun!

"This ye know, that no whoremonger, neither unclean person, nor covetous person, which is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, and of God."

Eph 5

How was the gospel given to Abraham, before Jesus/Yeshua was born?

Galatians 3:8  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Hint: Strong’s G3801

The answer is here. Read this after you make your choice. https://docs.google.com/docume....nt/d/10gFwcIi2-DJNuJ

We're troubleshooting some display issues with the new website. Apparently it shows up good on some screens but not so good on others with stuff being cut off the screen.

"Gathering Seaweed"

#nativeamerican #history

"Thinking of the Old Days"

#nativeamerican #history

Thought for Today: Tuesday July 18:

There is a time for risky love. There is a time for extravagant gestures. There is a time to pour out your affections on one you love. And when the time comes – seize it, don’t miss it.

BIBLE STUDY LESSON 06

SERIES V --- JOURNEYS FOR YESHUA

THE PHILIPPIAN JAIL

THE SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY: THE PRISON AT PHILIPPI

From Acts 16:16-40

A demon-possessed slave girl followed behind Paul and Silas one day as they went to the place of prayer. She earned much money for her masters as a fortune-teller, controlled by the evil spirit within her. [These men are YHVH’s servants,] she cried out again and again. [They are proclaiming the way of salvation.] Day after day the girl did this same thing. One day Paul was so disturbed that he spoke to the evil spirit within the girl. [In the Name of Yeshua Moshiach, I order you to come out of her!] he said. The spirit left the girl immediately. The girl’s masters realized that they had lost their source of income, so they dragged Paul and Silas before the magistrates in the marketplace. [These Jews are disturbing our city,] they charged. [They are persuading people to go against our Roman laws.] When the crowd that had gathered urged that the two men be punished, the magistrates had them stripped and beaten severely. Then they threw them into prison and warned the jailer that he would be executed if they escaped. Afraid for his life, the jailer put them in stocks in the inner dungeon. The prisoners listened as Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to YHVH. About midnight a mighty earthquake shook the prison, so that the doors sprang open and the chains fell from the prisoners. The jailer was jolted awake with the disturbance, and when he saw the doors opened, tried to commit suicide, for he thought the prisoners had escaped. [Don’t hurt yourself!] Paul cried out. [We are all here!] The jailer immediately called for lights, rushed into the prison, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. [Sirs, what must I do to be saved?] he asked as soon as he had brought them from the dungeon. [Believe in the Adonai Yeshua Moshiach, and you and your family will be saved,] they answered. The jailer took Paul and Silas to his house that night where he washed their wounds and listened as they spoke the Word of YHVH to him and his family. They accepted the Gospel and were baptized immediately. Then he fed Paul and Silas, rejoicing that he and his family believed now in the Adonai. When morning came the magistrates sent police to the prison with orders to release Paul and Silas. The jailer passed the news on to the two men and urged them to go in peace. [They have beaten us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison,] he replied. [We will not leave until they come personally to release us.] The magistrates were afraid when the police returned with word that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. They realized they could get into trouble for beating and imprisoning a Roman citizen without a fair trial. They rushed to the prison, apologized to the two men, and begged them to leave the city. Paul and Silas went from the prison to Lydia’s house. When they met with the believers there, they preached a message of encouragement, and then left Philippi.

COMMENTARY

PAUL’S SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY

Almost a year after returning from their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas decided to revisit the believers in Cyprus and Asia Minor. Barnabas suggested they take John Mark with them again, but Paul did not want to invite the young man who had deserted them on their first journey. Because they could not agree, Paul and Barnabas separated, setting off in different directions. Barnabas returned to Cyprus with John Mark while Paul chose Silas as his new traveling companion. Like Paul, Silas was a Hebrew believer and a Roman citizen. Setting out from Antioch, Paul and Silas stopped first in Tarsus, Paul’s birthplace. From there they travelled to Derbe and Lystra. In Lystra they were joined by Timothy, who was converted during Paul’s first visit. Passing through Iconium, they went to Troas. There Paul saw a vision calling him to Macedonia where he was joined by Luke. By way of Neapolis, they reached Philippi where Paul and Silas were jailed for disturbing the peace. Leaving Luke behind, they continued through Amphipolis to Thessalonica. When a crowd of angry Jews threatened them, they escaped to Berea by night. Timothy and Silas remained in Berea while Paul sailed alone for Athens. From there he went to Corinth and waited for his friends to rejoin him. Accompanied by Aquila and Priscilla, Paul and his companions sailed from Cenchrea to Ephesus. After preaching in the Ephesian synagogue, Paul set out for Jerusalem, stopping in Rhodes and Caesarea along the way. After greeting the believers in Jerusalem, the apostle returned to Antioch.