Tues., 1/8/13 Devotion (Acts 8:8)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 8:8, where we read these words:

"And there was great joy in that city."

The only time any town, city, state, or nation ever possesses real and solid joy, is when the church brings the gospel of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to it. Here, Philip had brought the good news to Samaria, a largely-despised place, and it [Samaria] gets transformed. As this happens, the citizens are ignited with the joy of the Lord.

The genuineness of Spirit-wrought revival will always be manifested in the culture. It starts in the church, but it is not possible for it to be contained there. Let us pray for the Lord to raise up His pastors and churches, that will bring the life of Jesus to this fallen planet.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Wherever there is truth there will be vic-tory." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit"]