Acts 7 - Day 718 (link to reading)
Scripture: Acts 7:51-53 Observation: Up until this point in Stephen’s speech, his audience was mesmerized by his retelling of their history. Then in verse 51, he points out their flaws and accuses them of murdering Jesus. The crowd reacts violently and stones Stephen. Application: Everyone likes to be reminded of all the good ole days and how some distant relative did an extraordinary thing to provide an opportunity for you today. What’s often omitted are the dark and negative events or secrets that would bring shame upon your history. It’s so much easier to pick up a rock and throw it at the person or thing that upsets you. However, now that we are in Christ, we are new creations - the old has passed, the new has come. And God’s will for our lives is to be like Jesus, by being empowered by the Holy Spirit. Only then can we embrace the good from our past while learning from the bad. Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for throwing stone at people who you’ve sent to help me recognize my sins. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and transform me into Your image. Acts 6 - Day 717 (link to reading)
Scripture: Acts 6:1-7 Commentary: Those with political power generally repressed complaining minorities; here the apostles hand the whole system over to the offended minority. This may thus be the first recorded instance of what we might today call “affirmative action.” 6:1. Some scholars think that the “Hellenists” (NRSV) here are simply Greek-speaking Palestinian Jews, but most Jews in Palestine were bilingual, and Greek was probably the first language for most Jerusalemites. The more likely proposal is that this text refers to Diaspora Jews who have settled in Jerusalem, as opposed to natives of Jewish Palestine. The Bible mandated caring for widows, who had no other means of support if they had no family nearby. Judaism took this responsibility seriously, in contrast to Gentile cultures. But because it was considered virtuous to be buried in the land of Israel, many foreign Jews would come to spend their last days there, then die and leave widows. (Palestinian rabbis eventually provided further theological incentive to immigrants; according to one common tradition, the dead would be resurrected only in Israel, so the righteous dead of other lands would have to roll the whole way back to Israel underground, and this was thought to be a very unpleasant experience.) Thus a disproportionate number of foreign Jewish widows lived in Jerusalem, which did not have enough foreign Jewish synagogues (6:9) for their distributors of charity to supply all the widows adequately. This urban social problem of Jerusalem spilled over into the church. Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (Ac 6:1–7). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. Application: Every member is a minister and can contribute to the whole. The apostles could have taken this task upon themselves, but they realized that their intervention would have prevented the distribution of responsibilities amongst the membership. Prayer: Lord, send workers for Your harvest... Acts 5 - Day 716 (link to reading)
Scripture: Acts 5:33-39 Observation: The apostles (Jesus’s messengers/friends/apprentices) had previously been arrested by the religious leaders and told to stop telling others about Jesus. The apostles refused and God continued to manifest His kingdom in and through them. The religious leaders want to kill the apostles for disobeying them. However, a well-respected member intervenes and convinces the religious leaders to reconsider. Application: There is a “pharisee” (religious leader) in all of us. If things don’t go my way, I get upset and devise a scheme to achieve my end goal. However, the question I should be asking myself is, “Am I fighting against God?” Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help me recognize Your plans for my life. Help me to surrender my plans/will to Your will. Acts 4 - Day 715 (link to reading)
Scripture: Acts 4:29-31 Observation: Peter and John are released from prison because the religious leaders didn’t know what to do with them. The day before, Peter healed a lame man and attributed the miracle to Jesus, whom they crucified, so the religious leader were in a predicament. They wanted to sweep the whole experience under the rug but couldn’t because the man who was healed was standing before them. The best they could come up with was to threaten Peter and John before releasing them. Peter and John returned to their “oikos” (household) and reported the good news of what had happened. Yes, being thrown in jail for doing what is right was considered good news, even back then. Then the church prayed for boldness to speak God’s word and to heal and perform signs and wonders to glorify Jesus. Application: Would I? Could I? Should I? Yes. Prayer: Lord, please use me to manifest Your kingdom, here on earth as it is in heaven. Acts 3 - Day 714 (link to reading)
Scripture: Acts 3:11-19 Observation: As an apprentice of Jesus who has learned to be like his instructor, Peter healed a man who was born lame. Then he testifies to the simple truth that “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong (healed).” Peter then uses the opportunity to direct the crowd to God - “Repent…" Application: The key to being more like Jesus is to: 1) repent and turn to God; 2) do the things Jesus did; 3) and give God the glory. Prayer: Lord, help me to be more like you. Burn out the things in my heart that are not of You. |
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January 2024
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