Acts 9:31So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. How interesting. Walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Now that’s an interesting tension. Fear and comfort. Fear keeps us in good stead. We esteem the Lord so highly that we h...  Read More

Acts 8:29And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The Spirit is speaking. Are we listening? Jesus promised that the Spirit will lead us into all truth. And this isn’t just into Big-T Truth (for all-people, all time). This is little-t truth as well (for this people, this time), and that even means for our p...  Read More

Acts 7:5He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child. God had big ideas! He wanted to build a nation. So, he chose for himself a man with hefty credentials, right? No. He chose a man well advanced in years, without children, and with no land of his own. Hmm. Nation building, eh? Whe...  Read More

Acts 6:7And the Word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly. Do you see the correspondence? Sowing and Reaping. Seedtime and Harvest. One comes before the other. Some people have the notion that the church brought forth the Scriptures. But this text shows us that the Scripture is actually responsible for the church. When the Word of God spreads it has a ge...  Read More

Acts 5:38-39If this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God! Such wisdom. Truth knows how to take care itself and doesn’t need any help of mine.   Sometimes we want to play police. It’s a good impulse. We care about the truth. But it’s verses like these that encourage us to give things time....  Read More

Acts 4:29And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness. Isn’t it funny that the disciples went from escaping threats at the arrest of Jesus, to standing up to them on their own? And that happens in the space of just two months! What accounted for the difference? The Holy Spirit. Look at verse 31. They were filled with the Holy Sp...  Read More

Acts 3:6I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk! Peter and John didn’t have what the man was expecting. And you might not have what people expect you to have. But that’s okay. As a Christian, you have something better, and they don’t even know it. People are looking to you, and you might not be able to make a temporal d...  Read More

Acts 2:42And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Many people have the notion that religion is a private affair, and that salvation is a personal thing. That may be true on a foundational level. But at some point, God is calling you into a community. Prayerfully read through Acts 2:42-47 a few times today and ask the Holy S...  Read More

Acts 1:7It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. Whenever our family goes on a long trip, our youngest child will usually and persistently ask, “When are we getting there?” And often our response is the same, “We’re not sure; just enjoy the ride.” I think God answers that question similarly, “Trust me on the timing and enjoy the journey.” But that’...  Read More

John 21:7When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment… and threw himself into the sea.  I love that picture. Utter abandon! He put on his coat and dove into the sea. Clearly this man lost all sight of himself. But he didn’t mind looking like a fool when it came to Jesus. David was the same way. When criticized for his love for God, he said, I’ll become even more undigni...  Read More

John 20:26Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” A popular prayer these days is “Lord, open the door” because we simply can’t walk through doors that are closed. We need God to rearrange the situation. For us, it is a necessity. But for Jesus, the rules do not apply. There’s a shift in thinking. When the situation looks like one big closed do...  Read More

John 19:5Behold the Man! Behold is to stop everything and take the scene in for all it’s worth. Behold the Man! Crowned with thorns, robed in shame, struck with malice, forsaken by all. Behold the Man! Don’t move another step. Let it pierce your very soul. Behold THE LAMB OF GOD – bludgeoned and bloody, but sweetly serene. This should’ve been you. This should’ve been me. This should’ve been us. Bu...  Read More