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Good morning. It’s Friday, February 27th, aka National Pokémon Day.

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

📖 Verse Of The Day

— 1 Peter 4:16

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🧠 Devotional

Did you know the word Christian only shows up in the Bible three times?

And all three are in the New Testament.

Here they are in the order they appear:

Acts 11:26 (NIV)

“The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”

Acts 26:28 (NIV)

“Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’”

1 Peter 4:16 (NIV)

“However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”

Now let’s look at what each verse shows us.

In Acts 11:26, this is the first time the word “Christian” appears in the Bible.

And this verse tells us two important things.

First, this was not a name believers chose for themselves. It says they were called Christians, meaning other people gave them the name Christian.

Second, it tells us where the name Christian began. Antioch is the place where followers of Jesus were first called Christians.

In Acts 26:28, with the second verse, we learn three new things.

The name had spread beyond Antioch, even a king knew what a Christian was, and being a Christian was something a person could either accept or reject.

In 1 Peter 4:16, this is the last time we hear the word “Christian” in the Bible.

And this verse tells us something new.

If you suffer as a Christian, you are told not to be ashamed. Instead, you are told to praise God that you bear the name Christian.

So first, we learn that “Christian” was a label given to believers by others.

Second, we see that “Christian” was a label someone could either accept or reject as their own.

And lastly, we learn that “Christian” is not just a label, but a name you should praise God to bear, even if it brings suffering.