DAY 40: The Gospel — The Essence of Faith

Read: Romans 1:1-17

Think: Today is Day 40 of 100 Days of Faith in Action. On this day, we transition from reading about the amazing acts of the Holy Spirit, particularly through Paul’s missionary journeys, to a serious letter Paul has written to the church in Rome. Interestingly, Paul had not founded the church in Rome, neither did he have personal contact with this church…until writing this letter. Because of these factors, the book of Romans is considered by Bible scholars as Paul’s theological treatise or position, in which he is “distilling the very essence of his faith and beliefs.” From the very beginning, in Romans 1, Paul describes himself as a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ who has been “set apart” for the gospel. And though it has been an incredibly tumultuous 22 years since Paul first began to preach the gospel, it remains his greatest passion! He writes (Romans 1:16), “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

Act: As you read the entire book of Romans over the next few weeks, read slowly! Underline key verses and make notes in your journal or even in the margins of your Bible. Allow Paul’s passion to deepen your own faith. Each day, highlight one verse from each daily reading and at the end of the book of Romans, you’ll have 21+ verses that you have found convicting, inspiring, compelling and empowering. Begin today. Choose one verse from Romans 1:1-17 that is the most impactful to you.

Pray: Dear Lord, I want to learn more abut You through the book of Romans. Allow me to grow in my knowledge of the Gospel and be refreshed in my faith. Most importantly, help me become more bold and articulate in sharing this great Good News with others. Open my heart and mind to learn more about You, Jesus. I love You. Amen.

Be full of faith today!

DAY 39: Boldly Proclaim the Gospel!

Read: Acts 28:1-31

Think: Paul’s final missionary journey ends in Rome. Paul had come to Rome to defend his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ—and his belief that Jesus was the Messiah, for whom the Jews had been waiting. The last two verses of the book of Acts ends with these words, “For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.” 

Act: From Acts 1 to Acts 28, we see how the Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus to give believers the power to witness—even and especially in dangerous times. The Holy Spirit gives us courage to surrender suddenly and continuously—so that we might leave a legacy for Christ with our earthly lives. The Holy Spirit gives us a mission to accomplish and a message that is true: truthful, relational, universal, and eternal. And finally the Holy Spirit gives us boldness to proclaim the Gospel so that we might change the culture in which we live—in any generation or any location. Through the book of Acts, how has God inspired you to leave a legacy with the rest of your life? 

Pray: Dear Lord, give me my marching orders! Help me to listen carefully to Your Holy Spirit, to speak clearly to others when you direct me, and to proclaim boldly the Good News that Jesus died for me to anyone who needs to hear the Gospel. Let me never be afraid or ashamed to tell my God-story. Use me to leave a legacy for your name, dear Jesus! I love You, Lord. Amen.

Be full of faith today!

DAY 38: Take Courage! Don’t be Afraid.

Read: Acts 27:21-44

Think: Though everyone on board the ship knew it was about to sink, Paul called the crew together and said, “…take courage. None of you will lose your lives…For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and serve stood beside me and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid…God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you. So take courage!’ I believe God. It will be just as he said…” The key to Paul’s faith is that he believed what God told him. He didn’t doubt. He didn’t question. He didn’t shrink back. And he told everyone around him what he believed God was going to do. In Hebrews 11:6, we are reminded that “It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” 

Act: As you come to the end of the book of Acts, take time to consider how your faith has been strengthened. Have you grown in your expectation to pray believing that God wants to do great things in your church or community or family? Have you prayed specifically and seen God do something otherwise impossible without His intervention? Have you been bold enough to share your faith in Jesus with a stranger? Have you heard God speak to you through your daily Bible reading or with a strong impression during your prayer time to do something or go somewhere that resulted in God using you to accomplish something great or small on His behalf? Has God given you courage to do something that you have never done before you began this 100 Days of Faith in Action? If you’d like to share one or more answers to these questions with me, please write to: becky@viewpointchurch.org — I’d love to hear them!

Pray: Dear Lord, I understand more clearly, by reading through the book of Acts, how much courage it takes to be a Christian. Thank you for giving me daily “marching orders” that are meant to further the Gospel, encourage the discouraged, and offer practical help to both friends and strangers on Your behalf. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who speaks to me, sometimes loudly and sometimes softly. Give me a greater awareness of Your plans for me from this day forward. I love You, Lord. Amen.

Be full of faith today!

DAY 37: The Test of Faith

Read: Acts 27:1-20

Think: Paul, a prisoner who has been placed in the custody of a Roman officer, boards a ship for Rome along with Luke and their companions. We often mistakenly think that those who are living “in the center” of God’s will experience only ease and peace, certainly not imminent danger! But Paul’s life reveals something completely different.  After numerous imprisonments, beatings, misunderstandings between fellow believers, and dozens of speeches delivered to religious or political authorities to defend his faith in Jesus Christ, Paul experienced even more difficulty on his journey to Rome. The first century church understood trials not as unusual, but as an integral part of the Christian life. In James 1:2-4, James writes to believers saying, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” 

Act: One of the most prominent themes throughout the book of Acts—and especially from Paul’s life—is that the Christian life does not entitle a believer to peace and ease. What believers can expect is that the Holy Spirit will sustain us during our inevitable trials. We have read, over and over in the book of Acts, how the Holy Spirit was given to Christ’s followers as their source of strength to hold on and wait for God no matter how dire a situation appeared. God wants us to be assured that His Holy Spirit will give every believer the indomitable courage he or she needs to wait for Him to show up in amazing—even impossible—ways. Let Paul’s life—and God’s Word—inspire you to trust God today, especially if you are experiencing trials and testing. 

Pray: Dear Lord, whom do I have, but You, to answer my prayers, direct my steps, and give me confidence and courage to face my trials. Let my hope be always in You—not in people or possessions. I trust You today to help me through the trials I am facing. And dear Lord, grant me an extra amount of courage so that I can encourage others as they face trouble. Hear my prayer today, dear Lord. Amen.

Be full of faith today!

DAY 36: Repent and Turn

Read: Acts 26:1-32

Think: A significant aspect of the Gospel message is a call to repentance. As Paul spoke to King Agrippa in Acts 26, he said, “I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do.” One version of this text reads, “…and do deeds to match your repentance.” The word repent means to “change one’s mind.” In my own life, I have found that to change one’s mind is not enough to change one’s actions. In order to move from changing one’s mind to changing one’s actions you must turn FROM sin and turn TO God. Repentance involves a physical posture of moving away from who or what is wrong (sinful, evil, ungodly behavior) and move immediately toward who or what is right (godly, pure, holy, good). 

Act: Repentance, though it isn’t difficult to understand, it is often very difficult to do. If you need to repent, I encourage you to make it more complete, simple, and immediate by considering the words of Charles Spurgeon, “Oh, that you would run away from your old master tonight, without giving him a minute’s notice. If you give him any notice, he will hold you. Run to Jesus and say, ‘Here is a poor runaway slave! Will You set me free, and make me Your own?’” If there is any area of your life in which you need to say this prayer, I urge you to do so! Repent and turn…and don’t look back.

Pray: Dear Lord, I need to let go of ____________________ today. I need to relinquish control of this area of my life to You today. Help me to run from that which keeps me in chains. Please set me free from _________________ this very hour. Speak to me of anything I must do today, right now, that will change my mind and my actions! I am running to You. Hear my prayer, dear Lord. Amen.

Be full of faith today!

DAY 35: You will be dragged before Kings

Read: Acts 25:1-27

Think: Jesus had predicted that his followers, in Matthew 10:18 would be “dragged before governors and kings because of me.” In Acts 25, Paul has come before Agrippa, Festus, Felix and others…and yet he will not stop talking about Jesus! Since the first century, Christians have stood in front of courts and kings to defend their faith in Jesus Christ. But they were never alone. The Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus, gave the early church the power to witness as recorded in Acts 1 and 2. And the Holy Spirit continues to empower all men and women, not only to speak on Christ’s behalf, but to live for Christ in every generation and culture since then. William Barclay notes in his commentary on the book of Acts, “The great Christians have never been afraid to point to themselves as living examples of the power of Christ.” 

Act: You may not be dragged before kings to defend your faith, but you will surely have numerous opportunities over your lifetime to speak boldly about God in your workplace, in your community, or while socializing with friends and neighbors. What will you say about Jesus? Remember, it is not only our words that influence others for the Lord Jesus Christ. Our love for the Word of God, our unusual kindness, our quick forgiveness toward an offense, the offer to pray for someone who is hurting, or the way we love the unlovely speaks just as loud as our words. Identify someone this week with whom you can share the love of Jesus Christ…don’t delay.

Pray: Dear Lord, let me be an example of Your love today to _________________. Give me the willingness to get out of my comfort zone and step out in love toward those who need prayer, forgiveness, and encouragement from You. Give me the courage to speak on Your behalf. Strengthen my faith, Lord. Amen.

Be full of faith today!

DAY 34: Have a Conversation…

Read: Acts 24:1-27

Think: The 24th chapter in the book of Acts is the continuation of Paul’s efforts to speak to the Jews, Gentiles, and Roman leaders. In every situation, he articulated the Gospel message with whomever was in the audience. It didn’t matter if the person was poor or rich, held a political or religious office, or was a bystander and stranger. In Paul’s conversations with Felix, the governor, (as recorded in Acts 24) he talked with him about “righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come.” In other words, Paul did not shy away from the very subjects that would make Felix uncomfortable with the Word of God or the person of Jesus Christ. In fact, the Holy Spirit, from Acts 1 to Acts 24, continually gave the believers words to speak that would convict the hearts of listeners.

Act: The book of Acts reveals how the message of Jesus Christ spread across the world through the conversations the early believers had with everyone they encountered, including the religious and political leaders. We cannot shy away from the truths of scripture, even if they make others feel comfortable. We must have sincere conversations with our kids, co-workers, family members, and friends about God’s viewpoint on all aspects of life. Is God prompting you to have a conversation about His Word with anyone in specific? If so, who are they and what is God asking you to discuss?

Pray: Dear Lord, I need your boldness to speak the truth in love to _____________. I confess that I get intimidated to talk about biblical principles because I fear that they will think I’m judging them. Open the way for a clear conversation with ___________ about the very things You have put on my heart to share with them. Remind me to be humble and empathetic. Give me Your words. I need Your help, Lord. Amen.

Be full of faith today!