Please read Acts 8 and 9  today.  It’s hard to believe how close we are to the end of our year together.  What are you thinking about today?  What truth can you take from these 2 chapters to apply to life right now?  Read and come on back – let’s visit!

“Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word” Acts 8:4

Scattered almost sounds random, but that’s how seeds are spread, right? Even a farmer, purposefully planting scatters his seeds in specific applies, in specific rows.  Here, the desired result is that everyone hear the Gospel. Every person and every place needs Jesus.

“There was great joy” Acts 8:8

There was great joy for a specific reason: Christ was being peached, people were receiving the Word, people were being healed, people were being delivered…. Jesus is the sole source and center of joy!  As every good and perfect gift comes from above (sorry, I’m ahead of myself there), no true joy comes without the goodness of God.

The sorcerers conversion, 8:9-13, is so powerful. It was the name of Jesus and it is still the name of Jesus today! And in Acts 9, the beginning of Paul’s ministry, wow!  Y’all are going to love reading Acts and Paul’s missionary journeys in the context of the chronological timeline – I’m excited!

Today, please read Acts 6, 7, and 8:1. This is a pretty exciting day!  The book of Acts is so rich.  What’s your highlight?  Let’s visit:

I love this part:

“So the Twelve called a meeting of the disciples. They said, ‘It wouldn’t be right for us to abandon our responsibilities for preaching and teaching the Word of God to help with the care of the poor. So, friends, choose seven men from among you whom everyone trusts, men full of the Holy Spirit and good sense, and we’ll assign them this task. Meanwhile, we’ll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God’s Word.’ ” Acts 6:2-5 MSG

I think this is important to notice: the Twelve had an assigned task: prayer and preaching.  They saw other things that were equally as important, but they couldn’t do everything, so they assigned the new task to other trustworthy followers.  What a great example to us today: we don’t have to do everything.  What we have to do is the assignment that God gave to us, and then work together with other believers to make sure that everything is taken care of. I wish I had time to stay here!

“Stephen, brimming with God’s grace and energy, was doing wonderful things among the people, unmistakable signs that God was among them.” Acts 6:8

As Stephen is clearly doing the work assigned to him, some people got jealous.  (we could stay here too, but….) They lie and Stephen is arrested.  At his trial, address, he tells the history Israel! Did you keep thinking: “Hey! I remember that!”  Stephen puts his work in the context of their spiritual legacy, so powerful. 

We hear of a young man that will become important to us later:

“Saul was right there, congratulating the killers.” Acts 8:1 MSG

These events set off a “great persecution”, and the disciples were “scattered throughout the regions”. Scattered like seeds – and now let’s see how the gospel spreads!

Today, we are all in one place: Acts 3, 4 and 5. Come on back and share a highlight-  what are you thinking about today? 

“One day at three o’clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the Temple for prayer meeting.” Acts 3:1

Do you remember these guys from Matthew 4? They’ve been with Jesus, seen Him work miracles, experienced His life-changing teaching and His love firsthand. Now they are continuing the work. We should take every opportunity to put these events in the timeline here, a piece of the bigger whole.

“And now, friends, I know you had no idea what you were doing when you killed Jesus, and neither did your leaders.” Acts 3:17 MSG

Can you appreciate how close Peter and Jesus were?  Can you imagine how difficult it might have been for him to speak to a group of people who had been part of the angry crowd, shouting for the release of a criminal over the Messiah?  I love how  he addresses them as friends – and continues:

“But God, who through the preaching of all the prophets had said all along that his Messiah would be killed, knew exactly what you were doing and used it to fulfill his plans. Now it’s time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you, and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely, Jesus.” Acts 3:18-19 MSG

Acts 3:19 is a favorite. The presence of God is the source of refreshing. And Acts 4:18-20 – can you imagine telling Peter and John that they could not talk about Jesus? He was their best friend and biggest influence, this would’ve been unthinkable to them. Lord, let silence about Your goodness be unthinkable to me too.

Today, please read Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1 and Acts 2. What’s your highlight?  We see Jesus “passing the torch” today – how can you pick it up and continue the work?

 ^“And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.” Luke 24:50-53 NKJV

In Luke 24:50-53, Jesus led them “as far as”. I love that phrase. He brings us “as far as” we can go – and then if we are willing and obedient, He blesses us so we can go even farther with His anointing. He blessed them as He parted and they continued in worship. The fellowship was never broken, even as Jesus parted. He is never separate from us.

“So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.  And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” Mark 16:19-20

Jesus sat down and the disciples went out. I want to still be going out today, don’t you?

Acts 1-2 – now we see the work continue, now we see the greater works Jesus said we would do. We ought to be doing those greater works still. ❤

Please read Luke 24:13-43, Mark 16:12-13, John 20:19-23, Mark 16:14, John 20:24-31, John 21, Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:15-18, and Luke 24:44-49. Jesus has risen, but people are just now trying to process what has happened and what might happen next – this is an exciting day!  What’s your highlight?  Come on back after you’ve read and let’s chat!

“They said, ‘The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn’t find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn’t see Jesus.’ ” Luke 24:19-24 MSG

“We had our hopes up, that He was the One” – just a few days ago, the crowd was clamoring for His death.  What an emotional roller coaster the descales have been on – and it’s not over yet:

“While they were saying all this, Jesus appeared to them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ They thought they were seeing a ghost and were scared half to death. He continued with them, ‘Don’t be upset, and don’t let all these doubting questions take over. Look at My hands; look at My feet—it’s really Me. Touch Me. Look me over from head to toe. A ghost doesn’t have muscle and bone like this.’ As He said this, He showed them His hands and feet. They still couldn’t believe what they were seeing. It was too much; it seemed too good to be true.” Luke 24:36-41 MSG

I love that the first words Jesus speaks to them are “peace”.  Peace is one of the first words He speaks to us still today.  You think you’ve gone too far?  Peace be with you, God wants to bring you home.  You think you’ve made too many mistakes?  Peace be with you, God wants to bring restoration.  You think you’ll never be well? Peace be with you, God wants to bring healing. No need to be afraid – Jesus is risen and brings us peace!

Please read Mark 15:42-47, Matthew 27:57-61, Luke 23:50-56, John 19:38-42, Matthew 27:62-66, Mark 16:1-8, Matthew 28:1-7, Luke 24:1-12, Mark 16:9-13, John 20:1-8, and Matthew 28:8-15.  What’s your highlight today?  Come on back and let’s visit!

“The women who had been companions of Jesus from Galilee followed along. They saw the tomb where Jesus’ body was placed. Then they went back to prepare burial spices and perfumes. They rested quietly on the Sabbath, as commanded.” Luke 23:55-56 MSG

I’ve been thinking a lot about space and Sabbath, taking rests and creating time to only be with the Lord…. it stands out to me today that these women were doing something really important (caring for Jesus’ body) but they stopped their work to do something even more important: they rested quietly “as commanded”.  It’s really easy for us to exchange God’s wisdom for our own – if it were me, I might have thought to myself, “Well, just for today – I’ll skip that commandment and do this instead”.  Their obedience is remarkable.  

The important thing was to be obedient, and what they were doing (however important) was not more important than being obedient. Once we are saved, obedience is first.  

How about Nicodemus? He “first came to Jesus at night and now in broad daylight” John 19:39 – imagine the growth that has happened since he was first saved.

P.S. Jesus is risen! Sorry for nearly skipping that amazing part! 

Please read Mark 15:21-24, Matthew 27:32-34, Luke 23:26-31, John 19:17, Mark 15:25-32, Matthew 27:35-44, Luke 23:32-43, John 19:18-27, Mark 15:33-41, Matthew 27:45-56, and Luke 23:44-49.  Hard day!

“By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours—a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. Jesus called loudly, ‘Father, I place my life in your hands!’ ” Luke 23:44-46MSG

Of course, we are more familiar with the NKJV or the NIV version of this verse, where Jesus says “it is finished”, but I like the Message this morning.  The phrase “Father, I place My life in Your hands” makes me think of almost a “I’ve done all I can do, please take over from here”.  Even in His dying moments, Jesus set such a tremendous example.  We can’t relate to the kind of sacrifice that Jesus made for us – we can relate to a situation where we have done all we can and must leave the rest to God. We have a part to play here, we have a purpose and a role that is our own. Do your best and trust God.

“Then He breathed His last” Luke 23:46 MSG

I wasn’t ready. I’m so thankful that He IS going to rebuild the temple!

Today we are reading Mark 15:2-5, Matthew 27:11-14, Luke 23:1-12, John 18:28-40, Mark 15:6-15, Matthew 27:15-26, Luke 23:13-25, John 19:1-16, Mark 15:16-20 and Matthew 27:27-31. The repetition is good for us – don’t skim.  Let’s take in today.  Most likely, we feel the same way as each other-  but what are you thinking?

People are so unkind. I feel as if Pilate resisted being involved, should have resisted more. I know its what had to happen – I’m just trying to put myself there.

“Then Pilate said, ‘So, are you a king or not?’ Jesus answered, ‘You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice.’ ” John 18:37 MSG

“Any feeling for truth” – our hearts ought to be touched hearing Jesus’ words.  When Pilate answers, “what is truth?” (18:38),  do you think it’s kind of a cop out?  Pilate doesn’t even wait for Jesus to answer before he allows this frenzied crowd to make the decision.  Even making the show of washing his hands of the decision (Matthew 27:24), seems silly, a mockery of this important moment. A leader knows the truth, a leader ought to be able to take in the information and make the right decision… 

Tearing His clothes , marching to crucify…. marching, purposefully marking every step, thinking they know what they are doing…

“But they kept at it, a shouting mob, demanding that he be crucified. And finally they shouted him down. Pilate caved in and gave them what they wanted. He released the man thrown in prison for rioting and murder, and gave them Jesus to do whatever they wanted.” Luke 23:23-25 MSG

Another tough day.  Let’s read quietly, reflective: Mark 14:53-65, Matthew 26:69-75, Luke 22:54-65, John 18:25-27, Mark 15:1, Matthew 27:1-2, Luke 22:66-71, and Matthew 27:3-10.  As the holiday season starts here – Thanksgiving is upon us, we are Christmas shopping and getting ready for events, lots of reasons to celebrate Jesus – it’s a good day to remember that we don’t only worship the Baby, we worship the Savior.  What your highlight today?

Jesus never sinned, never lied… it heartbreaking to read about people mocking Him (like the soldiers hitting Him and asking Him to prophesy). They really didn’t know what they were doing or saying.

“Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, ‘Prophesy!’ And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands” Mark 14:65

There’s nothing we face that Jesus cannot understand. He is truly acquainted with our grief, and even more…I almost feel like we just now got Jesus, and the crucifixion is already upon us. In the context of the entire history (because He was there in the very beginning), this is all the more heart rending.

Coming to the betrayal and arrest…. this story is moving faster than I want it to this morning.  Let’s read John 18:1-2, Mark 14:32-42, Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:39-46, Mark 14:43-52, Matthew 26:47-56, Luke 22:47-53, and John 18:3-24.  Come on back and let’s visit!

Jesus said that He always spoke openly, and He did!

“I spoke openly to the world” John 18:20

“and in secret I have said nothing “John 18:20

We ought to be this transparent as well. We remember Luke 18:7 from the other day when Jesus told the disciples there is “nothing hidden that won’t be revealed”.  We ought to live as if there are no secrets. Every day, we see something that someone thought would be a secret – it’s on our internet homepage or on the front page of the newspaper or on the 5:00 news.  Let’s follow Jesus’ example here as well and speak openly. Where there are no secrets, there’s also no shame and no reason to lie.

The prayer in the garden, as described by Mark and Matthew and Luke, it’s a a lot to take in. Often times I think about Jesus at this moment, wrapped in humanity and desiring human friendship. Heartbreaking really. I’ve felt that way myself at times, alone and needing a friend. Haven’t you?  Jesus can always relate to us – He’s been there too.

Of course not everyone is called to what you are called to – like Jesus, sometimes we have to be willing to move forward alone and let others sleep on.