AnActsDevotional

  Acts 4:13 The leaders of the temple/church noticed the courage of Peter and John and noted they had been with Jesus.   Lord Jesus, may our courage be a testimony of Your goodness in our lives.  Give us the faith and courage we require to obey the next little thing You tell us to do.  Amen.

  Acts 4:11-12   Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected,      which has become the cornerstone.’  Psalm 118:22 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” ============================================================== These are words to meditate on.  Sometimes we are rejected for standing up for what we believe is right, so it's good to be remind that so was Jesus.  He understands.  It also begs the question, do we still reject Him?   Lord Jesus, please help us to remember salvation is found in no one else.  Thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and thanks for forgiving us.

  Acts 4:5-10 First of all note Peter and John's attitude after spending a night in prison!  They came out strong, because they had the Holy Spirit within them and they stayed Jesus focused. This is Peter's testimony " It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,  whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead,  that this man stands before you healed. 

  Acts 4:1-4 Lay people are teaching; and they're teaching something that doesn't sit well with the church leaders; Jesus rose from the dead!  So what does the leadership do?  They arrest Peter and John!  Yet, many came to know Jesus that day.  This is the challenge of applied faith.  What are we willing to do to stay on the course of truth? What are we willing to do to see others comes to know Christ? Lord Jesus, please guide us and direct us in the ways of Your truth and then give us the courage to obey the next little thing You tell us to do.

  Acts 3:25-26 It is true; Jesus is a Jew!  He was talked about by their prophets and His ancestors are Jewish.  He also appeared to the Jews first after He was resurrected.  Yet this Jewish blessing was meant to be shared as it says in Genesis 22:18 and 26:4 ,  ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.' Heavenly Father, Thank you for the Jewish blessing of Your son.  Help us to respect the Jewish people for their contribution to this world and help us to value their prophets; especially Jesus as Messiah. In Jesus name.

  Acts 3:24 Here are some thoughts to meditate on.  Discussions in the Old Testament that were fulfilled in the new 44 Prophecies about Jesus Some of these statements Jesus could have read about and determined to fulfill them but the truth is He didn't have any control over His birth and the events surrounding His birth.  Think about the odds of all of these prophecies being fulfilled by one person! Yes, Jesus is the long awaited for Messiah. Lord Jesus, please open the eyes of those around us to see the truth of You being the Jewish Messiah.  Also be with the persecuted church just now.  Watch over the leadership discussion over Afghanistan today and may the Christians there shine in such away that people in the Taliban turn to You.  Bring revival Lord Jesus we pray.

  Acts 3:19-23 Peter is speaking to a crowd who he assumes was responsible for having Jesus killed and he tells them to repent, (to feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing) and turn to God.  Peter is convinced Jesus is the prophet Moses talked about and that people need to listen to Him. So what about us?  Are our sins re-crucifying Jesus?  I'm currently thinking of socially acceptable sins like unbelief, gluttony, pride...  Lord Jesus, help us to turn to You and listen to You.  Amen

  Acts 3:17-18 The crowd had Jesus crucified in ignorance.  Peter goes on to explain that Christ's suffering was meant to be based on what the scriptures had foretold.  This challenges us to read the scriptures to get an understanding of what our lives should be like. Scripture never promised an easy life; just a life full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self control. Yes, the crowd was wrong yet God used the crowd to fulfill His purposes in Christ's life; even though He went through the worst He came out of it victorious. Lord Jesus, help us to listen to You and what You have to say through Your word so that we are not deceived and Lord Jesus, please be with the persecuted church just now.  Give them courage, faith and the strength to carry on, and not to deny You.

  Acts 3:13-16 Have you ever been with a group that didn't "get Jesus"?  Peter saw it when the crowd crucified Jesus.  The crowd disowned Him.  Sadly they disowned a Holy and Righteous man and released a convicted murder!  A scene where wrong seems right and right seems wrong.  But this didn't stop God from acting.  The God of the Jewish people glorified His servant Jesus because through faith, the lame man was made to walk again! Sometimes the crowd doesn't get our faith but this should never stop us from believing because God will work in ways that we least expect.  Keep the faith. Dear Jesus, help us in this world of darkness, to keep our faith strong  in You.  Amen

Acts 3:11-12   Peter is amazing.  He didn't take credit for the healing of the lame man.  He recognized it wasn't by his own power or godliness that he made the man walk and he noted this by asking the crowd that had gathered questions. Lord Jesus, help us to glorify You in our every day lives. Amen

  Acts 3:2-10 Sometimes we need to get creative with our social justice. First of all while we are going to church we must make time to see the need. Secondly we must realize that God is bigger than us and the problem. In this case Peter and John didn’t have money to feed the man who was lame from birth…but they had faith, so they prayed for him. This led to his healing..and his ability to work and feed himself. Lord Jesus give us Your eyes to see the needs and the solutions. In Your name I pray.

  Acts 3:1 Peter and John were going "to the church" to pray.  There is nothing like fellowship over prayer.  May we not forget to pray together as a church body.

  Acts 2:46-47 They met at the church daily, and ate together in each others homes; all with glad and sincere hearts praising God.  As a result people continued to join them. Lord Jesus, please help us to have this type of authentic fellowship focused on You; especially now when folks are divided over how to stay safe with covid. Amen.

  Acts 2:44-45 This passage is interesting because it talks about having everything in common and sharing.  It seems to me that a sign of the Spirit at work is unity within the church. Lord Jesus, help us to come together as one; where You are the head.  Amen

  Acts 2:43 Everyone was in awe at the signs and wonders the disciples did.  This makes me ask, Lord show us signs and wonders and as You do this please help us to give the attention to You and not keep the spot light on ourselves.  When was the last time you saw a miracle?  Feel free to add it to the comments.  I'm so quick to dismiss miracles with a logical explanation!  Here are two cool events I've experienced.  One was when my parents and I were heading to the cottage.  I came up the east side of lake Simcoe and they came up the west side of lake Simcoe and when we got to the top of the lake I was right behind them!  Another came on a very rainy day in the summer.  I was to take my nephew and God daughter to Wonderland and it was pouring rain.  I prayed about it and thought this is the only time I would get to do this with them so I thought God would clear up the weather for us.  I was meeting my God daughter and her Mothe...

  Acts 2:42 Listening to teachings, fellowship, eating together and prayer; this is what the disciples did when the Holy Spirit came upon them. Lord Jesus, may we have authentic love for each other within the church.  Help us to work through our differences as we grow together in You so that we can truly love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul and mind and love our neighbour as much as we love ourselves.