July 06, 2026 | The Movement - A Study in Acts by Byron McWilliams
Day 1: Amazing Grace That Saves Wretches
Reading: Acts 9:1-9
Devotional:
Saul of Tarsus deserved judgment, yet he received grace. Like him, we all stand as rebels against God, deserving condemnation for our sin. The beauty of the gospel is that God doesn't give us what we deserve. Instead, He offers amazing grace—unmerited favor that transforms wretches into saints. John Newton understood this when he penned "Amazing Grace" after his own dramatic conversion from slave trader to pastor. Today, reflect honestly on your spiritual condition before Christ. Were you truly "just a good person," or were you lost, blind, and dead in sin? Embrace the humbling truth that you needed rescuing. Let gratitude for God's amazing grace overflow in your heart, knowing that nothing you did earned this gift—it flows purely from His loving heart.
Reflection Question: How does understanding yourself as a "wretch" saved by grace change your perspective on God's love?
Day 2: The Mercy and Forgiveness We Don't Deserve
Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-17
Devotional:
Paul never forgot what he had been—a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent opponent of Christ. Yet he received mercy. God's forgiveness isn't based on the magnitude of our sin but on the magnitude of His love. When Jesus confronted Saul on the Damascus road, He didn't destroy him; He redeemed him. This same mercy is available to you today, regardless of your past. Perhaps you've hurt others, rejected God, or lived in rebellion. God's mercy is greater than your sin. Repentance means turning 180 degrees from your old path and walking toward Christ. Don't believe the lie that "God won't ask you to change." True salvation always involves transformation. But here's the wonderful truth: He gives you the power to change through His Spirit.
Reflection Question: What areas of your life need a 180-degree turn today?
Day 3: The Vast Depths of God's Love
Reading: Romans 8:31-39
Devotional:
Saul the Pharisee lived by law, not love. His religion was contractual, transactional, cold. But when he encountered Jesus, waves of pure love washed over him, transforming everything. Paul became so convinced of God's love that he declared nothing—absolutely nothing—could separate us from it. Not tribulation, persecution, danger, death, angels, demons, or anything in creation. Do you truly grasp how much God loves you? More than your parents, more than your spouse, more than you love yourself. This isn't sentimental affection; it's sacrificial love demonstrated at the cross. When you doubt, when the enemy whispers lies, return to Romans 8. Soak in these truths. God knows your thoughts, your failures, your secret sins—and He still loves you passionately, completely, eternally.
Reflection Question: What would change in your life if you fully believed God's love for you is unshakeable?
Day 4: Convinced of Christianity's Truth
Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Devotional:
Paul's conversion wasn't a hallucination or emotional experience—it was an encounter with the resurrected Christ. This changed everything. Suddenly, Christianity wasn't a heresy to stamp out but the truth to proclaim. The resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith. If Christ remained dead, Paul wrote, our faith would be futile. But Jesus lives! You may not have a Damascus road experience, but God has given you something equally powerful: His Word. Week after week, the gospel is proclaimed, the Scriptures are opened, and the Holy Spirit works to convince you of truth. Don't despise the ordinary means of grace—preaching, Bible reading, fellowship. God uses these to build unshakeable faith. Christianity isn't true because it makes you feel good; it's true because Jesus conquered death.
Reflection Question: What evidences of Christ's resurrection strengthen your faith today?
Day 5: Chosen to Serve the King
Reading: Acts 26:12-18
Devotional:
Jesus didn't reveal everything to Paul immediately. He gave him one step at a time. First, surrender. Then, wait. Then, receive instruction. Then, obey. God's calling on your life unfolds progressively as you walk faithfully. You don't need to see the entire staircase; you just need to take the next step. To serve God effectively, you must: relate to Him personally through salvation, respond to His voice obediently, adjust your life according to His priorities, and then do whatever He asks. Paul was chosen to bring the gospel to the Gentiles, but first he had to stop fighting and start following. What is God asking you to do today? Not ten years from now—today. Stop resisting. Surrender your plans. Your fighting against Him is futile. He loves you, He's chosen you, and He has kingdom work prepared specifically for you.
Reflection Question: What is the one next step God is asking you to take in faith?
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your amazing grace that saved a wretch like me. Help me to never forget where You found me and what You saved me from. Deepen my understanding of Your love, convince me more fully of the truth of the gospel, and empower me to surrender completely to Your will. Give me courage to take the next step of obedience, trusting that You will guide me one step at a time. In Jesus' name, Amen.