Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Holy and loving Father, I want to honor your will for my life. However, dear Father, I need the guidance of your Spirit to help me recognize your will for me and to help me develop a plan for doing your work and fulfilling your purposes for me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Jesus and the followers left the synagogue. They all went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law was very sick. She was in bed and had fever. The people there told Jesus about her. So Jesus went to her bed. Jesus held her hand and helped her stand up. The fever left her, and she was healed. Then she began serving them. That night, after the sun went down, the people brought many sick people to Jesus. They also brought people that had demons inside them. All the people in the town gathered at the door of that house. Jesus healed many people that had different kinds of sicknesses. Jesus also forced many demons to leave people. But Jesus would not allow the demons to speak, because the demons knew who he was. The next morning, Jesus woke up very early. Jesus left the house while it was still dark. He went to a place to be alone and pray. Later, Simon and his friends went to look for Jesus. They found Jesus and said, "All the people are looking for you!" Jesus answered, "We should go to another place. We can go to other towns around here. Then I can tell people {God's message} in those places also. That is why I came." So Jesus traveled everywhere in Galilee. He spoke in the synagogues. And he forced demons to leave people.

Related Scripture Readings

So Ananias left and went to the house of Judas. He put his hands on Saul and said, "Saul, my brother, the Lord Jesus sent me. He is the One you saw on the road when you came here. Jesus sent me so that you can see again and so that you can be filled with the Holy Spirit. " Immediately, something that looked like fish scales fell off Saul's eyes. Saul was able to see again! Saul got up and was baptized. Then he ate some food and began to feel strong again. Saul stayed with the followers {of Jesus} in Damascus for a few days. Soon he began to go to the synagogues and tell people about Jesus. He told the people, "Jesus is the Son of God!"

Paul went into this synagogue to see the Jews. This is what he always did. Every Sabbath day for three weeks Paul talked with the Jews about the Scriptures.

But the Holy Spirit will come to you. Then you will receive power. You will be my witnesses—{you will tell people about me}. First, you will tell people in Jerusalem. Then you will tell people in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world."