Focus
Relax and listen. Consciously prepare to hear God’s Word. Clear your mind of the worries and tasks that lie before you. Open your heart and allow it to refresh.
Read
Acts 5:12-16 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.
Reflect
This is ‘Luke’s narrative of the explosive growth of the fledgling Christian church’. We see demonstration after demonstration of God’s miracle-working power to heal, help, and give hope. There were many sincere prayers for signs and wonders, and so those prayers were answered.
When there is evidence of the true and living God, people don’t need social media, the word goes forth and those in need, come. They believed in what the apostles had to say, and in their conviction and passion. Whatever, and whoever, focuses in on the needs of God’s creations, promotes God in His entirety. This same focus, this same power, through our same God can and will rescue sinners from the clutches of sin and drain satan’s power. The result or positive outcome will be souls, Christian believers, added to the kingdom of God.
ASK OURSELVES
Do we believe this same explosive growth can take place in this 21st century…this year? Do we believe, at all, that present day believers can usher souls to Christ? Do we believe that the power given to those apostles is the power God gives to us to do the same powerful evangelism, outreach, witnessing? Do we believe Ephesians 4:12-13 and Acts 1:8? If we were asked what do we believe, what would we say?
Pray
Dear God in heaven, Christian believers ask your forgiveness for every act of defiance and disobedience. May the unsaved and unchurched see you as the head of our lives, daily, in Jesus’ holy and righteous name, amen.
Go with God!
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