"No Fear of Man" August 4 Readings: Job 19-20, Acts 26, Psalm 89:49–52, Proverbs 19:15–16

  

Reading the Bible in 2025

Each day this year, we will read a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of the Psalms, and a part of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have read the entire Bible. We read this way to give you a bit of variety. 

NOTE: If you get behind, do not give up. Read today's readings and try to catch up when you have a chance. The goal is not to "accomplish a task" but to meet God in his word. Read the word. Also, if you are short on time, READ GOD'S WORD and skip my devotional!

Bible Readings: Job 19-20, Acts 26, Psalm 89:49–52, Proverbs 19:15–16

    Scriptures linked to Bible Gateway in ESV version 

Daily Devotional: No Fear of Man

It was a classic mismatch. The Apostle Paul stood before the descendant of Herod the Great, Herod Agrippa, a man of great power. He could order Paul's death at the slightest whim. The average man would cower before him.

Not Paul. When Paul was ordered, in Acts 26, to stand before Agrippa in the auditorium at Caesarea, he did not back off. He was respectful to the king as he had taught believers to be, but he was direct. He told the story of his conversion to Christ and confronted Agrippa with the Lordship of Jesus. He did not back down a bit.

Paul had only one goal in life - that Jesus Christ would be exalted and made known to the world. He said to the Philippians, "For to me, to live is Christ." He meant it. It was all about Jesus. And he did not care if a man was rich or famous or powerful or even royal. All that mattered to Paul was that he was a sinner who needed the salvation that only came through Jesus Christ.

We who are redeemed by Christ ought to have the same passion for proclaiming him that Paul had. Rich or poor. Black or white or any shade in between. Powerful or inconsequential. From either side of the tracks. It is our duty to make Jesus known in this world.

Father, give me the spirit of Paul who cared only about make your Son known in this world. May your name be exalted through me. 

Consider God's Word:

Which of these four passages spoke most clearly to you today? 

Is there sin in your life that needs to be confessed and dealt with that was revealed in one of these passages? 

Is there something in your life that needs to change?

Is there a struggle in your life that one of these passages spoke to? 

Are you a "respecter of persons" - treating people on the basis of their human status?

Do you live to proclaim Christ?