Truth For Life Program
Alistair Begg Devotional
C. H. Spurgeon Devotional
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Appearances can deceive, even within the church. Consider Judas Iscariot, a disciple who personally witnessed Jesus’ teaching and miracles—yet betrayed Him! On Truth For Life, Alistair Begg examines how this still happens amongst professing believers.
From the Sermon
A Disciple of Christ
Every day, you are shaping your reputation. And as a Christian, every day you are shaping Christ’s reputation too. What do our lives say about Christ as we walk around as His disciples?
Ananias may be a lesser-known Bible character, but he had a profound influence on Paul’s life and therefore on all of church history. This resulted from his daily devoted faithfulness as a disciple of Christ. Three traits of his discipleship can help to shape our own character and commitment to Christ as we seek to be used in God’s kingdom.
First, Ananias was, as the KJV puts it, “a certain disciple” (emphasis added): one who was specifically chosen. Even before bringing Paul (then known as Saul) to Damascus or calling upon Ananias, God sovereignly orchestrated the spread of the church after the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem to reach at least 200 miles north to Damascus, where a group of believers, including Ananias, were then established. Then, out of this group, God specifically chose Ananias to reach out to Paul after his conversion. This profound display of God’s sovereignty should inspire and encourage us to trust that God may be working in ways yet unseen to prepare and use us to accomplish His will.
Next, Ananias was a bold disciple. He identified himself as a follower of the Lord—part of the very group in Damascus that Paul was on his way to persecute before his conversion (Acts 9:1). Ananias’s loyalty wasn’t simply to a local church, a denomination, or a theological view but to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Similarly, if Jesus has taken hold of our lives and changed us then we cannot keep this life-altering fact to ourselves either. Just as we say no to sin when we receive Christ’s salvation, we must also say no to secrecy about our faith. Either our discipleship will destroy our secrecy, or our secrecy will destroy our discipleship.
Finally, Ananias was a committed disciple. Later, Paul would remember Ananias as a “devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived” in Damascus (Acts 22:12). A reputation like this is not gained in five minutes, or even five days, but slowly, in the steady ebb and flow of life. Ananias developed such a reputation by committing his whole life to following God and His word—a commitment that he surely displayed through his daily business and interactions with others.
Ananias’s life challenges us to be faithful in seemingly small ways on apparently ordinary days. Perhaps one day we will be called to do something extraordinary for the Lord—but we are not to wait until then before we live wholeheartedly for Him. This is what disciples do: boldly, devotedly, and humbly they pursue God and trust Him completely. Whether you are in the midst of studies, raising children, pursuing a career, or facing retirement and old age, seek to do it all faithfully to the glory of God. Make it your aim to be known simply as Ananias was: as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
How is God calling me to think differently?
How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?
What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?
The Conversion of Saul
1But Saul, bstill cbreathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to dthe high priest 2and asked him for letters eto the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to fthe Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3gNow as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting hme?” 5And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, hwhom you are persecuting. 6But irise and enter the city, and you will be told jwhat you are to do.” 7kThe men who were traveling with him stood speechless, lhearing the voice but seeing no one. 8Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, mhe saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10Now there was a disciple at Damascus named nAnanias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, o“Here I am, Lord.” 11And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man pof Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and qlay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, rhow much evil he has done to syour tsaints at Jerusalem. 14And here he has authority from uthe chief priests to bind all who vcall on your name.” 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for whe is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name xbefore the Gentiles and ykings and the children of Israel. 16For zI will show him how much ahe must suffer bfor the sake of my name.” 17So cAnanias departed and entered the house. And dlaying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and ebe filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and fhe regained his sight. Then ghe rose and was baptized; 19and htaking food, he was strengthened.
Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues
For isome days he was with the disciples at Damascus.
Devotional material is taken from the Truth For Life daily devotionals by Alistair Begg, published by The Good Book Company, thegoodbook.com. Used by Truth For Life with permission. Copyright © 2021, 2022, The Good Book Company.
Your Faith Has Saved You
She had been immediately healed.
One of the most touching and instructive of the Savior’s miracles is before us tonight. The woman was very ignorant. She imagined that virtue came out of Christ by a law of necessity, without His knowledge or direct will. Moreover, she was a stranger to the generosity of Jesus’ character, or she would not have gone behind to steal the cure that He was so ready to provide.
Misery should always place itself right in the face of mercy. Had she known the love of Jesus’ heart, she would have said, “I need only to put myself where He can see me—His omniscience will teach Him my case, and His love will immediately work my cure.”
We admire her faith, but we marvel at her ignorance. After she had obtained the cure, she rejoiced with trembling: She was glad that the divine virtue had worked a marvel in her; but she feared in case Christ should retract the blessing and negate the grant of His grace. Little did she comprehend the fullness of His love! We do not have as clear a view of Him as we could wish; we do not know the heights and depths of His love. But we know of a certainty that He is too good to withdraw from a trembling soul the gift that it has been able to obtain.
But here is the marvel of it: Although her knowledge was small, her faith, because it was real faith, saved her, and saved her at once. There was no tedious delay—faith’s miracle was instantaneous. If we have faith as a grain of mustard seed, salvation is our present and eternal possession. If in the list of the Lord’s children we are described as the feeblest of the family, yet, being heirs through faith, no power, human or devil, can eject us from salvation. If we dare not lean our heads upon His bosom with John, yet if we can venture in the crowd behind Him and touch the hem of his garment, we are made whole. Take courage, timid one! Your faith has saved you; go in peace. “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God.”1
1) Romans 5:1
Devotional material is taken from Morning and Evening, written by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright © 2003, Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org. Used by Truth For Life with written permission.
Daily Bible Reading for February 15
Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh
1After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. 3And Jacob said to Joseph, z“God Almighty1 appeared to me at aLuz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you bfor an everlasting possession.’ 5And now your ctwo sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, dare mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. 6And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7As for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow eRachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance2 to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”
8When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9Joseph said to his father, f“They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that gI may bless them.” 10Now hthe eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, iand he kissed them and embraced them. 11And Israel said to Joseph, j“I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” 12Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near him. 14kAnd Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, lcrossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). 15And he blessed Joseph and said,
“The God mbefore whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
16nthe angel who has oredeemed me from all evil, bless the boys;
and in them let pmy name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
and let them qgrow into a multitude3 in the midst of the earth.”
17When Joseph saw that his father rlaid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19But his father refused and said, r“I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, shis younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude4 of nations.” 20So he blessed them that day, saying,
“By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying,
t‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’”
Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but uGod will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22Moreover, I have given to vyou rather than to your brothers one mountain slope5 that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.”
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39In those days Mary arose and went with haste into rthe hill country, to a town in Judah, 40and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth swas filled with the Holy Spirit, 42and she exclaimed with a loud cry, t“Blessed are you among women, and ublessed is vthe fruit of your womb! 43And why is this granted to me that the mother of wmy Lord should come to me? 44For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45And xblessed is she who believed that there would be7 a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat
46And Mary said,
y“My zsoul amagnifies the Lord,
47band my zspirit rejoices in cGod my Savior,
48for dhe has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations ewill call me blessed;
49for fhe who is mighty ghas done great things for me,
and hholy is his name.
50And ihis mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51jHe has shown strength with his arm;
khe has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52jhe has brought down the mighty from their thrones
land exalted those of humble estate;
53he has filled mthe hungry with good things,
and the rich nhe has sent away empty.
54He has ohelped phis servant Israel,
qin remembrance of his mercy,
55ras he spoke to our fathers,
qto Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
56And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord shad shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59And ton the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60but his mother answered, “No; uhe shall be called John.” 61And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62And vthey made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63And he asked for wa writing tablet and wrote, u“His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64xAnd immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue yloosed, and he spoke, zblessing God. 65And afear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all bthe hill country of Judea, 66and all who heard them claid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For dthe hand of the Lord was with him.
Zechariah's Prophecy
67And his father Zechariah ewas filled with the Holy Spirit and fprophesied, saying,
68g“Blessed be the Lord hGod of Israel,
for he has ivisited and jredeemed his people
69and khas raised up la horn of salvation for us
min the house of his servant David,
70nas ohe spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71pthat we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72qto show the mercy promised to our fathers
and rto remember his holy scovenant,
73tthe oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him uwithout fear,
75vin holiness and righteousness before him wall our days.
76And you, child, will be called xthe prophet of ythe Most High;
for zyou will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77to give knowledge of salvation to his people
ain the forgiveness of their sins,
78because of the btender mercy of our God,
whereby cthe sunrise shall dvisit us8 efrom on high
79to fgive light to gthose who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into hthe way of ipeace.”
80jAnd the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was kin the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
Job Continues: Death Comes Soon to All
1“Man who is kborn of a woman
is lfew of days and mfull of trouble.
2He comes out like na flower and owithers;
he flees like pa shadow and continues not.
3And do you qopen your eyes on such a one
and rbring me into judgment with you?
4Who can bring sa clean thing out of an unclean?
There is not one.
5Since his tdays are determined,
and uthe number of his months is with you,
and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,
6vlook away from him and leave him alone,1
that he may enjoy, like wa hired hand, his day.
7“For there is hope for a tree,
if it be cut down, that it will sprout again,
and that its shoots will not cease.
8Though its root grow old in the earth,
and xits stump die in the soil,
9yet at the scent of water it will bud
and put out ybranches like a young plant.
10But a man dies and is laid low;
man breathes his last, and zwhere is he?
11aAs waters fail from a lake
and a river wastes away and dries up,
12so a man lies down and rises not again;
till bthe heavens are no more he will not awake
or be croused out of his sleep.
13Oh that you would dhide me in eSheol,
that you would dconceal me funtil your wrath be past,
that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
14If a man dies, shall he live again?
All the days of my gservice I would hwait,
till my renewal2 should come.
15You would icall, and I would answer you;
you would long for the jwork of your hands.
16For then you would knumber my steps;
you would not keep lwatch over my sin;
17my transgression would be msealed up in a bag,
and you would cover over my iniquity.
18“But the mountain falls and ncrumbles away,
and othe rock is removed from its place;
19the waters wear away the stones;
the torrents wash away the soil of the earth;
so you destroy the hope of man.
20You prevail forever against him, and he passes;
you change his countenance, and send him away.
21His sons come to honor, and he pdoes not know it;
they are brought low, and he perceives it not.
22He feels only the pain of his own body,
and he mourns only for himself.”
Proclaiming Christ Crucified
1And I, when I came to you, brothers,1 xdid not come proclaiming to you ythe testimony2 of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2For I decided to know nothing among you except zJesus Christ and him crucified. 3And aI was with you bin weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of cthe Spirit and of power, 5so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men3 but din the power of God.
Wisdom from the Spirit
6Yet among ethe mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not fa wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, gwho are doomed to pass away. 7But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, hwhich God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8None of ithe rulers of this age understood this, for jif they had, they would not have crucified kthe Lord of glory. 9But, as it is written,
l“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has mprepared nfor those who love him”—
10these things oGod has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even pthe depths of God. 11For who knows a person's thoughts qexcept the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12Now rwe have received not sthe spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13And we impart this tin words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, uinterpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.4
14The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are vfolly to him, and whe is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15The xspiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16y“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But zwe have the mind of Christ.
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