Focus

Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.

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Read

Acts 5:17-26 (NRSV)

Then the high priest took action; he and all who were with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy, arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.” When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching.

When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council and the whole body of the elders of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the temple police went there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed about them, wondering what might be going on. Then someone arrived and announced, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” Then the captain went with the temple police and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

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Reflect

When I have good news, I cannot keep it inside. I tell my wife and daughter as soon as I possibly can. If the news is particularly exciting, I may even strike up a conversation with a perfect stranger just to share the news! The apostles had exciting, life-changing news. Traveling and listening to the teachings of Jesus had filled them with wisdom that had to be shared. Their lives had been changed. Their mission in life was to tell what they knew about Jesus. Persecution came, but that did not quench the good news that was bubbling up inside them.

Christians are often accused of leading somber and boring lives. We have the same good news to tell that the apostles had. We encounter the same life-changing wisdom when we study the words of Christ. Go ahead, tell someone why you live a life devoted to Jesus Christ!

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Pray

Jesus, help me when I am reluctant to share the good news of your life. Build within me the life-changing excitement that the early disciples felt. Guide me to the purposes you have for my life. In your name I pray. Amen.

Go with God.