Wisdom to Navigate Life's Waters
- Baptist Daily Devotional
- 12 hours ago
- 2 min read
Rev. Enoch Thompson | February 3 2026 | Acts 23:6-10
KEY VERSE: “Then Paul,. . ., called out in the Sanhedrin, ‘My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.’” (Acts 23:6, NIV)
MESSAGE:
Life is a long journey that takes the believer through mountains and plains, rivers and deserts, smooth and rough places. As we face different situations, we need to make decisions that enable us to navigate them in ways that honour God. In Acts 23, again, Paul finds himself in a hostile environment, facing leaders who wanted to destroy him. Yet he did not panic. He observed the situation, accurately discerned God’s door of escape for him, and wisely put his right foot forward by declaring his hope in the resurrection. Paul was aware of the deep division between the Pharisees (who believed in resurrection, angels, and spirits) and the Sadducees (who denied those beliefs). If the two groups are now joined in action against him, then he could divide their front by affirming and declaring his belief in the resurrection. The result was chaos, and Paul was spared from immediate harm.
We can learn from the above that God gives His people wisdom to navigate opposition. Sometimes the way forward is not brute force but Spirit-led discernment.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Pay attention to the spiritual and social dynamics around you. Seek divine wisdom. Before you respond in conflict, pause and ask God for wisdom (James 1:5).
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for the wisdom You gave Paul in a hostile setting. Teach me to discern situations through the guidance of Your Spirit. Keep my hope anchored in the truth of Your Word, and help me to walk with courage and wisdom when pressure rises. May my words and actions point others to the living hope we have in Christ. For Your Name’s sake, Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING
DAILY word study: HOPE The word “hope” comes from the Greek elpis (ἐλπίς). It means confident expectation, a settled assurance of what God has promised. It is not a wishful feeling. It is a steady expectation rooted in God’s faithfulness
Paul said he was on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead. He was pointing to the core truth that shaped his life and message. His hope was not in outcomes, popularity, or human approval. His hope was in what God had already declared, that death does not have the final word. This kind of hope gives clarity under pressure and steadiness in conflict.
Reflect on this:
Where do you place your hope when life turns hostile? Ask the Lord to anchor your heart in elpis, a confident expectation that He will keep His word. When your hope rests in Christ, your mind becomes clearer, your words become wiser, and your steps become steadier
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