Subscription Lists
Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Acts 9:32-42 - and please, do read the passage of Scripture. It is vitally important that we base our life and thinking upon the Word of God and NOT comments upon the Word of God.
When you read the Bible you will never read a wrong word. As we make our way through the Book of Acts I cannot emphasise sufficiently how necessary it is to read the Biblical text.
After that lengthy comprehensive section on how Paul met Jesus Christ - and all that is connected with his being born again - so rich - so valuable - in taking us through the very basics of discipleship - Luke then switches to speak about Peter.
Paul has gone home to Tarsus, and then into the wilderness for around three years. Peter is now travelling around the country in the Name of Jesus for the cause of Christ, and Luke gives us some details about the ministry of Peter. Peter too has been through a lot and, comparatively speaking, he is now an experienced Pastor. He is a shepherd of the sheep.
Jesus had commissioned him to care for the lambs and feed the sheep, and that is what we see him doing in this passage. Peter has seen the lambs and the sheep scattered by the persecution which the Church of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem had experienced.
This must almost have broken his heart. Peter had faced imprisonment - threats upon his life - as well as witnessing healings and crowds coming to believe in Jesus. Here he is travelling around seeking visiting those groups of disciples of Jesus who had to flee from Jerusalem. He would be trying to pick up the bits and minister to their various needs.
Some people would have questions. Some would be sore. They would have lost their homes and houses - their possessions and jobs. There would be much to do - many tales to hear - wounds to heal - encouragement would be needed in a way we know little about. We all need someone to minister to us when we are bruised and broken.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "Word from Scotland" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.