Month: December 2024

A Powerful Name!

As the early church grew in the Book of Acts, so did the persecution. The preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ annoyed the religious elite. These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. (Acts 4:2, NLT) They arrested Peter and John and, at their trial, attempted to prevent them from ever speaking Jesus’ name again. But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further…they commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:17–18, NLT)

That was a mistake! Persecution is like fuel to fire, and the gospel began to spread with intensity. So, the Apostles were arrested again. And when they had brought them…the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching…” (Acts 5:27–28, ESV) The name of Jesus was the problem! Yes, the Son of God, Jesus, the one who went about doing only good during His life on this earth, the one they crucified, the one who rose from the dead—He and His name are the problem.

As I read about the effort to shut down any mention of Jesus’ name, I was reminded of a scripture: Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9–11, NKJV) The gospel is not going away, and neither is Jesus! What a reassurance of hope we have as believers, though we may be persecuted for His name’s sake. Yes—eventually, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess this powerful name!

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Acts 4-6:15.

Together!

Today, I started reading the Book of Acts in my Bible reading plan. The first three chapters are packed full of amazing content. At the end of chapter two, verses 42-47 stood out to me. They describe an amazing fellowship of believers. In the NLT, “share” is used four times, and “together” is used twice in these verses.

These believers are mentioned as sharing meals, their money, and everything they had. They are also mentioned as being together outside of their worship at the Temple and together in worship at the Temple. They were generous and joyful! All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, … to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper) … all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had … and shared the money with those in need … worshiped together at the Temple each day … and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people … (Acts 2:42–47, NLT)

Believers are not meant to live in isolation, separated from each other. The more the New Testament believers came together and shared everything, the more they grew as a fellowship, the greater their praise to God, and the deeper their goodwill ran. What a reminder in a shallow live-streaming, social digital age, where everyone stays apart, separated by their screens, thinking somehow they have come together while sharing nothing. I am reminded of a verse in Hebrews, And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24–25, ESV) As believers, together in Christ, there is joy, love, and the good works of sharing!

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Acts 1-3.

Kindling for the Heart!

News has gotten out that Jesus’ body is missing from the tomb! Some say they saw angels who said Jesus is alive…and some say they have seen Him! Is any of this true? All the reports were starting to muddle together.

This was the conversation of two of Jesus’ followers on the road to Emmaus. A “stranger” had joined them as they walked and asked why they looked so sad. These followers were shocked that this stranger hadn’t heard of the events of the last few days. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” (Luke 24:17–18, ESV) What a question, but it opened the door for the stranger, Jesus, to explain to them from the scriptures who He was, which had a unique effect on their hearts. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? (Luke 24:32, KJV)

As I was thinking about this event from today’s reading, I was reminded of a verse in Jeremiah, Does not my word burn like fire?” says the Lord…(Jeremiah 23:29, NLT) Believer, have you ever felt like your heart was getting cold and dull due to discouraging events that all began to muddle together? Perhaps God was starting to feel like a stranger? Did you know there is a way to warm up your heart? The Word of God warms the heart and enlivens the hope; it will enthuse your faith when everything around you is trying to pour on the cold water. Open the Word of God, and though it might feel like a stranger at first, it won’t for long as you find your heart begin to kindle with warmth. 

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Luke 24 and John 20-21.

The Empty Tomb!

Uh-oh! The news from the soldiers guarding Jesus’ tomb is a big problem. The religious elite who put Jesus to death wake up to their worst fears—Jesus is risen from the tomb! There was an earthquake, and an angel came and rolled the stone away. His body is gone! And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it…And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. (Matthew 28:2 & 4, ESV)

So what’s the plan? Let’s bribe the soldiers to lie—telling everyone that Jesus’ ragtag band of followers, who had all abandoned him out of fear, suddenly found a streak of bravery run through their spines and conducted a covert operation. They rolled the stone back and stole the body while the soldiers were snoring. That’ll put an end to the resurrection! The crazy part is that the religious elite and the Roman soldiers went with it. Apparently, it’s the best they could come up with. 

For nearly two thousand years, the message of the Gospel has crushed all attempts to silence it. The commission of Jesus to spread this Gospel is supported by an authority beyond this world.  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20, ESV) What a promise we have as believers that Jesus is with us until the end of the age, and all attempts to stop the Gospel are as ridiculous as the first attempt was. Let’s rejoice in the resurrection, and with great power, let’s continue to tell others of the hope and life available to all who will believe. 

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Matthew 28 and Mark 16.

No More Partition!

And so they crucified Him. Crucified who? Jesus. Who crucified the Son of God? The “churchgoing” crowd—the religious of the day. Those who claimed to know God were those who had Jesus arrested. They were the ones who brought Him before Pilate. They were the ones who stirred up the people to request of Pilate that Jesus be crucified.  So Jesus was whipped with a lead-tipped whip and nailed to a cross, where He died. The worshippers of God killed Jesus. 

The following verse stood out as I read the account of Jesus’ crucifixion. Upon Jesus’ death, the Bible says, At that moment, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart,(Matthew 27:51, NLT) This tearing of the veil means that God accepted Jesus’ blood sacrifice for the sins of all mankind, tearing down the partition that stood between us and God. And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. (Hebrews 10:19–20, NLT)

As believers, we have direct access to God through Jesus. As the religious mob of Jesus day thought they were crafty in doing away with Jesus by having Him crucified, Jesus was doing away with the Old Covenant and the entire system that the religious were trying to protect. Believers, let us rejoice in the sacrifice of Jesus, which enables us to come directly to God. There is no longer a partition! What, then, does this mean? Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16, ESV) How close are you to God? Are you enjoying this new life-giving way called Jesus?

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Matthew 27 and Mark 15.