The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 1 OCTOBER 2024 – TOPIC: APOSTLE PAUL: A ROMAN AND HEAVENLY CITIZEN
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THE DAILY FOUNTAIN
DAILY DEVOTIONAL OF THE
CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
DATE: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2024
(64th Anniversary of Nigeria Independence)
TOPIC: APOSTLE PAUL: A ROMAN AND HEAVENLY CITIZEN
READ: ACTS 22: 24-30 (NKJV)
22:24. the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him.
22:25. And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”
22:26. When the centurion heard [that,] he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman.”
22:27. Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.”
22:28. The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” And Paul said, “But I was born [a citizen.”]
22:29. Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
22:30. The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from [his] bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
THE MESSAGE:
Apostle Paul met with challenges in his evangelistic missions. An angry mob wrongly accused him of teaching heresies and defiling the temple. A Roman Commandant arrested him and ordered him flogged without trial. Paul asserted his Roman citizenship which stopped this illegal action. Citizens of any country enjoy certain rights and privileges; sadly, the abuse or denial of these rights due to bad governance has been evident in our nation since independence. The experiences of Paul show that Christians can meet with challenges when discharging their duties. Adequate knowledge and proper use of these rights can be used with wisdom if necessary.
As born again Christians, we are entitled to rights and privileges such as peace amidst storms, God’s presence and counsel, good health, security, etc., in Christ. Paul’s knowledge and assertion of his right as a Roman citizen saved him from an unjust punishment. Similarly, adequate knowledge and proper use of our sonship rights in the word of God is necessary to cope with life’s challenges. Are you a citizen of heaven? Repent and give your life to Jesus today to qualify for sonship rights in Christ. Today, as we celebrate the 64th anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence, decide to uphold the rights and privileges of those under you and pray for God’s intervention for our leaders to always do the same and rule with justice.
PRAYER: O Lord, help our leaders at all levels to lead with justice and grant citizens their right as we remember our 64th independence as a nation.
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