Category: Acts Devotionals 2

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Acts Devotionals 2

King of the world

Cross

And we ourselves proclaim to you the good news of the promise that was made to our ancestors. God has fulfilled this for us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm:

You are my Son;
today I have become your Father. (Acts 13:32-33)

Jesus, you are King of the world.

You were crucified for our sins, but the Father raised you from the dead, proclaiming you King. (Psalm 2:6-8)

And because you will never again die, you will be King forever.

Lord, let your Kingdom come.

We have messed up this world because of our sin. And we desperately need a Savior.

In your name, there is forgiveness for our sins and healing for our brokenness.

I don’t want to sit on this good news.

So send me as you sent Saul and Barnabas to proclaim this good news to everyone I meet.

Spirit, as you filled your people then, fill me and all your people now with boldness and power to do your work.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Acts Devotionals 2

The One who truly reigns

Broken crown

On an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a speech to them. The assembled people began to shout, “It’s the voice of a god and not of a man!”

At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died. (Acts 12:21-23)

I found it interesting that the word translated “throne” here is the word “bema” in Greek, which is the word also used for God’s judgment seat or Christ’s judgment seat. (Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10).

What Herod found out that day was that though he sat on his own bema seat, there was a Bema Seat that sat higher than his. And ultimately he was held accountable by his King.

I talked yesterday about not becoming cynical or jaded by this twisted world. It’s easy to become that way when we see all the injustice that’s out there.

But let us remember that everyone, great and small will be held to account in the end.

That’s our hope.

But it should also keep us humble.

We too will be judged. And only by the grace of God will any of us be able to stand on that day.

Humility, gratitude, and hope. Let that be what grounds us each day until our Lord returns.

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Acts Devotionals 2

A good man in a twisted world

Sunrise

for [Barnabas] was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. (Acts 11:24)

I was thinking today about how I would like to leave behind the same kind of legacy that Barnabas did.

A good man. What did the author Luke mean when he called Barnabas a good man?

Luke says he was full of the Spirit. I’m sure Barnabas was full of the wisdom and power of the Spirit in his life.

But I can’t help but think Luke also means that Barnabas was a man full of the fruit of the Spirit. Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

I think that’s a pretty good definition of a good man.

But how could he live that way in such twisted world? How could he not turn cynical or become jaded by all he saw around him?

Because he was also full of faith. Faith that God is good and that he is still in control no matter the circumstances.

How differently would this world see Christianity if they saw more Christians full of the Spirit and that kind of faith.

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Acts Devotionals 2

The gospel: remixed

Gospel Remixed

He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. (Acts 10:36)

I think for most of my life, the gospel has been basically presented to me this way:

  1. God loves you.
  2. Your sin separates you from him.
  3. Jesus died for your sin and rose again.
  4. If you put your faith in him, you will be forgiven and your relationship with him will be restored.

Additional aspects such as “heaven” and “God has a plan for your life” are also often mixed in.

I’m not saying that this presentation is wrong. It helped save me, after all.

That said, it’s not exactly the way Peter, Paul, and the rest of the apostles seem to present the gospel throughout Acts.

Rather, as I’ve mentioned several times now as we’ve gone through Acts, the gospel they preached seems to center on this one truth: Jesus Christ is Lord of all.

You see that clearly in the above passage.

Unfortunately, though, this is not so clear in many translations. “He is Lord of all” is treated as a parenthetical statement, as if Peter was saying, “Oh by the way, just to let you know, Jesus is Lord of all.”

But the Greek pretty much reads this way:

The message sent to the sons of Israel proclaiming good news of peace through Jesus Christ: this Jesus is Lord of all.

In short, “Jesus is Lord of all” is not a parenthetical statement. It is the very core of the gospel message.

Peter was probably referring back to Isaiah 52:7.

How lovely on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace
And brings good news of happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (NASB 95)

Not convinced?

Follow the flow of Peter’s sermon.

After proclaiming that Jesus is Lord of all, he showed how Jesus demonstrated his Lordship by exercising authority over the demons and reversing the curse of sin by healing people, physically and spiritually.

Peter showed that this is no tyrannical Lord we need to fear. Jesus is a good Lord who does good to his people.

And after the people killed him, God raised him from the dead, appointing him to be…what? Savior? Redeemer?

Both are true. But that’s not what Peter said.

He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead. (Acts 10:42)

Because Jesus is Lord of all, the inescapable truth is that we are all accountable to him. And the day is coming when he will judge all people and make all things right.

That’s good news, right? This broken world will finally be made whole!

Except for the fact that we’re part of the reason this world is broken.

If Jesus is to make all things right, he needs to judge us.

That would be scary, except for one thing.

All the prophets testify about him that through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins. (Acts 10:43)

And so we come back to the beginning of Peter’s message: the good news of peace through Jesus Christ. He paid the price for our sin on the cross. And now if we embrace him as our King, he will forgive our sins.

So all that is said in the “traditional” formula of the gospel I grew up with is true. I just think it needs to be remixed.

  1. Jesus is Lord of all.
  2. This is great news! Because he is a good Lord. He will judge all people and make all things right.
  3. So repent and embrace your King. And you will find peace and joy under his good reign.

Is that the gospel you’re sharing with others?

More importantly, is that the gospel you’re living and rejoicing in?

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Acts Devotionals 2

Proclaiming Jesus

Messiah, Son of God, Christ, King

Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God”…

But Saul grew stronger and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. (Acts 9:20, 22)

It’s easy to just glance over these verses without a second thought.

But as I’ve mentioned before, one thing that we see in Acts is that the heart of the gospel is “Jesus is Lord.”

We see that in Paul’s messages right from the start.

“Jesus is the Son of God,” “Jesus is the Messiah,” were different ways of saying the exact same thing: “Jesus is God’s anointed King.”

The implication?

“It’s time to submit yourself to your good King’s reign.”

So as we tell people about who Jesus is, yes, it’s important to talk about how he is God who became human and dwelt among us. Yes, it’s important to tell people that he’s our Savior.

But the most important thing to tell them is, “He’s your rightful King. Come back under his good reign.”

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Acts Devotionals 2

Even the hardest heart

Stone heart

They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul..

Saul agreed with putting him to death. (Acts 7:57-8:1)

In so many ways, Moses was a picture of Jesus. (Acts 7:37)

Jesus also was beautiful in the eyes of the Father. (Acts 7:20)

When Jesus came, you’d think his people would have understood that God was providing deliverance through him, but they did not. (Acts 7:25)

Instead they rejected their Ruler and Judge. (Acts 7:27)

Though he performed signs and wonders, though he himself was the living oracle of God, they were unwilling to obey him and pushed him aside. (Acts 7:36, 38-39)

But what really struck me today was this: With all the men closing their ears and screaming to drown out Stephen’s words, one man among them eventually became one of the Jesus’ greatest apostles, spreading the good news that “Jesus is Lord” throughout the Roman empire.

Which tells me that even the hardest heart can be changed by the power of God’s love.

So as I think of one such man right now, that’s what I’m praying for. That the love of God, his family, and the Christians around him can break through his hardened heart like the dawn and bring salvation.

Who is God putting on your heart now?

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Acts Devotionals 2

Wayback Wednesday: Regaining focus

This is a revision of an earlier blog article.

The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables.

Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:2-4)

Obviously, the apostles were dropping the ball in terms of making sure all the widows were getting fed.

But what was their answer? To be more faithful in fulfilling those duties?

That certainly would have been one option.

But to be faithful in doing those duties would have been problematic. Why? Because those duties, important as they were, were not what God had called the apostles to do.

They were called to preach the word and to pray. For the apostles, to faithfully serve the widows would have meant not being faithful in preaching the word and praying. After all, a person has only so many hours in a day.

And that’s why they delegated the ministry of feeding the widows to the deacons. By doing so, the apostles could focus on what God wanted them to do.

It is so easy to get caught up in doing things, even good and necessary things, and yet neglect to be faithful in doing what God has called you to do.

So recently, I took some time to reflect. “What do I need be doing? What has God asked of me? And what has he not?”

And after praying on it, there was one ministry I decided to step back from.

We are called to do what God has asked us to do. No more, no less.

To do less is disobedience.

To do more, especially over an extended period of time, can lead to dropped balls, and even worse, to burnout.

And God doesn’t want us burning out. He wants us to burn brightly.

What is God asking you to do?

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Acts Devotionals 2

Following our King

cross

“The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging him on a tree. God exalted this man to his right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:30-31)

Every day in the temple and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah (i.e., “God’s anointed King”). (Acts 5:42).

I mentioned yesterday that the heart of the gospel is “Jesus is Lord.”

We see that again in the apostles’ defense before the Sanhedrin and in their daily messages to the people.

But I was thinking about how easy it is for me to follow something else, to let something else reign in my heart.

I don’t think I struggle with jealousy as the priests and Saduccees did. But I do see times I let pride reign in my heart. Times when I know I’m wrong and am slow to admit it.

And I can definitely say there are times that I’m like Ananias and Sapphira, craving the praise and approval of others and struggling with the love of money.

But I don’t want those things reigning in my heart.

I want to yield my heart to my King and let him reign.

More, I want to be sharing with those around me the joy of life under his good reign. (Acts 5:20)

How about you?

Lord Jesus, reign in my heart.

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Acts Devotionals 2

The heart of the gospel

Empty tomb

With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus… (Acts 4:33)

At my church, we’ve recently been rethinking what the message of the gospel is.

And as we have, some passages that have always puzzled me have started to become crystal clear.

For example, why is it that in passages like the above, the death of Jesus on the cross for our sins is skipped? That would seem to be a crucial part of the gospel message.

Certainly, Jesus dying for our sins is true and important. But it seems whenever the cross is mentioned in Acts, the apostles focused instead on how the people rejected their rightful King. (Acts 2:23, 36; 3:14-15; 4:10-12, 25-28; 5:30-31)

Then there’s this famous passage:

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

Again, the cross is completely skipped over in favor of the resurrection? Why?

I think it’s because of what the resurrection means. Paul tells us in at the beginning of Romans,

[Jesus] was appointed to be the powerful Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead. (Romans 1:4)

We often think of the term “Son of God” in terms of Jesus’ deity. But in Jewish thought, kings were considered “sons of God.” By his resurrection from the dead, Jesus was appointed the ultimate “Son of God”, King of kings and Lord of lords.

So when Paul says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved,” he’s really saying the same thing twice: Salvation comes as we confess Jesus as Lord, believing that God appointed him as our rightful King through his resurrection from the dead.

We see all this in the first gospel message in Acts where Peter said,

God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this. Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God…

Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” (Acts 2:32-33, 36)

Keep in mind, that “Messiah” and “Christ” both mean God’s anointed King.

What am I trying to say?

The heart of the gospel is not, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life,” true though those words may be.

The heart of the gospel is not, “Jesus died for your sins to save you so that you could go to heaven,” though through Jesus’ death, we now do have the promise of eternal life in his Kingdom.

The heart of the gospel is “Jesus is Lord — your rightful Lord.”

So when we call people to repent, we’re not simply saying, “Tell God you’re sorry for your sins.”

We’re saying, “Come back under his good reign. Be saved from this corrupt generation that has rejected its rightful King.” (Acts 2:23, 36-40; 3:13-15, 19-20)

As we go through this book, look for that theme. Because it will come up time and again, especially in the gospel messages the apostles preached.

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—
the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:12-13, NIV)

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Acts Devotionals 2

Not a heavy thing

Journey of faith

Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah…

You must listen to everything he tells you...

God raised up his servant and sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.” (Acts 3:19-20, 22, 26)

Jesus, you have been appointed as our Messiah, our King.

And as our King, we owe you our obedience—in everything.

Yet I choose to believe this is not a heavy thing.

Because in doing so, I am refreshed and find blessing in you.

You are my King.

And I delight in obeying you.

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Acts Devotionals 2 Bible Original

No second-class

They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit… (Acts 2:3-4)

Those words arrested my heart this morning.

The Holy Spirit rested on each one in that upper room. Not just the 12 apostles. But each one. Men, women, young, and old.

There were no second or third-class among them.

All had access to God’s presence, his wisdom, and his power.

So do I.

So do you.

I don’t want to take that for granted.

I want to take full advantage of what God has given me.

And so I’m praying an old song today:

More love,
More power,
More of you in my life. — Jude Del Hierro

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Acts Devotionals 2

Devoted to prayer

Sunrise

All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer… (Acts 1:14, ESV)

I was thinking on those words this morning. They were devoting themselves to prayer. Not just praying casually. Devoting themselves to it.

What were they praying about? I suppose they could’ve been praying about personal needs or personal spiritual growth.

But I get the feeling there were two things they were specifically focusing on.

“Let your Kingdom come.”

“Send your Holy Spirit. Fill us with power to help bring about your Kingdom.”

I strongly doubt they knew exactly what they were praying for, how exactly God would answer their prayer.

They probably had little idea precisely how the Kingdom would sweep across the Roman Empire.

They probably had little idea on what it meant to be filled with and empowered with the Spirit.

But they devoted themselves to praying for those things.

And God answered in ways beyond they could have imagined.

I want to pray as they did.

Lord, let your Kingdom come.

Fill me with your Spirit. Empower me to do your Kingdom work in everyone I touch today.

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Acts Devotionals 2

Passionate for the Kingdom

Paul

From dawn to dusk he expounded and testified about the kingdom of God. He tried to persuade them about Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.

Some were persuaded by what he said, but others did not believe. (Acts 28:23-24)

I couldn’t help but see the passion of Paul in those words. A passion to bring people into God’s kingdom.

Some people believed his message. Some didn’t.

But regardless of their response, it didn’t diminish his zeal.

I want that passion.

In these last several chapters of Acts, I’ve been thinking about Paul’s words to the Corinthians.

In particular, his words in 2 Corinthians 5 clearly explain his motivations for all he did in Acts.

Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people… (Think about Felix in Acts 24:15, 24-25.)

For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. (Think about Festus in Acts 26:24).

For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died.

And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised. (2 Corinthians 5:9-11, 13-15)

Father, give me Paul’s passion for your kingdom: compelled by Christ’s love for me, compelled by my love for him, and compelled by his love for those around me.

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Acts Devotionals 2

A word to sustain the weary

Praying disciple

The Lord God has given me
the tongue of those who are instructed
to know how to sustain the weary with a word.

He awakens me each morning;
he awakens my ear to listen like those being instructed. (Isaiah 50:4)

I’ve been working on memorizing that verse the last few days, including just before reading today’s passage.

And as I read Acts 27 today, it struck me that Paul could have said those words.

God awakened his ears to listen as a disciple would. (Acts 27:23-24)

And he gave him the tongue of a disciple that could sustain the weary with a word. (Acts 27:25, 33-36)

That’s the kind of man I long to be.

Father, give me the ear of a disciple that hears your voice. And give me the tongue of a disciple that knows how to sustain the weary with a word.

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Acts Devotionals 2

Too small?

God's greatness

Why do any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead? (Acts 26:8)

Those words stood out to me today. Not because I don’t believe God can raise the dead. But it made me wonder, “Are there other ways in which I make God too small?”

I was praying for someone today, and the thought occurred to me, “Do I really think this can happen? Or am I just expressing a wish, a hope for something that I don’t think will really happen?”

I don’t want to be that way. My God is big. And I want to see him that way.

It made me think of an old worship song.

I have made you too small in my eyes.
O Lord, forgive me.

And I have believed in a lie
that you were unable to help me.

But now, O Lord, I see my wrong.
Heal my heart and show yourself strong.

And in my eyes and with my song,
O Lord, be magnified.
O Lord, be magnified. — Don Moen