Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 19:13, 15

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 19:13, 15
"Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?"

Did the Jews do this to mock the name of Jesus? Were they just playing around? Testing the waters? The man with the evil spirit leaped on them. You cannot mess with things you have no authority or power over. Those that mock will mourn.

"Thou hast also made our words powerful and great, even that we cannot write them; wherefore, when we write we behold our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our words.
And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness;"
(Ether 12:25-26)

Day 4161

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 18:24-28

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 18:24-28
"And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ."

I love this whole story of Apollos and how God prepared him to receive the gospel. He studied the scriptures and at that point only knew of the baptism of John. Then those that could give him more hear him and teach him. He embraces Jesus Christ and is a powerful missionary to others. I love how people are prepared in advance to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ, then in turn they convert others.

Day 4160

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 17:22-23

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 17:22-23
"Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you."

I was interested in the phrase "too superstitious" so I looked at the footnote, "GR most religious, i.e, careful in divine things." That wasn't what I imagined at all. They knew enough that there was a God, but didn't know him. This opened the door for Paul to preach to them of God and Jesus Christ. It reminded me of Ammon and king Lamoni. The importance of meeting the person you are teaching at their level.

"Now when the king had heard these words, he marveled again, for he beheld that Ammon could discern his thoughts; but notwithstanding this, king Lamoni did open his mouth, and said unto him: Who art thou? Art thou that Great Spirit, who knows all things?
Ammon answered and said unto him: I am not."
And Ammon began to speak unto him with boldness, and said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God?
And he answered, and said unto him: I do not know what that meaneth.
And then Ammon said: Believest thou that there is a Great Spirit?
And he said, Yea.
And Ammon said: This is God. And Ammon said unto him again: Believest thou that this Great Spirit, who is God, created all things which are in heaven and in the earth?"
(Alma 18:18-19, 24-28)

Day 4159

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 16:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 16:9-10
"And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them."

Paul is first forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach the gospel in Asia. Then when they came to Mysia they were told not to go into Bithyania. When they got to Troas Paul is told by the Holy Ghost that he needed to go to Macedonia. Paul was obedient to all of this and they had success there. They were also thrown into prison. All of this prepared the way for greater things. We do not always know the course we should take but the Lord is ever guiding us.

"While serving a mission in England in 1840, President Wilford Woodruff (1807–98), then one of the Twelve Apostles, was prompted by the Spirit to go to the south of England. Through his efforts and the efforts of others serving with him, about 2,000 people were converted in the area of Herefordshire, Worcester, and Gloucester. Reflecting on this extraordinary period of his life, President Woodruff wrote: “The whole history of this Herefordshire mission shows the importance of listening to the still small voice of God and the revelations of the Holy Ghost. The Lord had a people there prepared for the Gospel. They were praying for light and truth, and the Lord sent me to them” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff [2004], 91).

Day 4158