Category: Acts

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Acts 1

Take a moment to read the entire chapter of Acts 1 before reading the devotional below.

Today we begin our series through the book of Acts. The author, Luke, wrote both the book of Luke and Acts, with the end of the book of Luke and the beginning of Acts both containing the story of Jesus’ return to heaven. We continue on to find out what happened to the disciples after Jesus left them to begin the church.

Jesus’ first instruction for their task of spreading the good news of his resurrection is to go hang out in a room and do nothing. As a driven, type-A person, I really do dislike how often the Bible encourages waiting. And yet here we sit with the disciples, waiting in a room in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit.

In the meantime, they are working to come to terms with the complete betrayal of Jesus on the part of Judas, who has since committed suicide. It’s an ugly and gruesome start, that’s for sure. So they’re down one person, and they have to find a replacement on the team. “When in doubt, flip a coin” is the lesson at the end of this chapter. Yes, that’s right, the early church was founded on a divinely ordained coin toss.

You know you’ve been called to giant mission and have no idea what to do first? Just wait in a room with a bunch of people who are going to do it with you and let the Holy Spirit show up when he’s ready. Not sure how to decide between two great options? Pray and flip that coin. There is so little God actually wants us to wrack our brains to try to figure out. He’s leading you, one step at a time. Most likely it’s a lot slower than you’d expect. When you have eternity in mind, time isn’t really of the essence.

When you have eternity in mind, time isn’t really of the essence.

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Acts 2:1-13

Take a moment to read Acts 2:1-13 before reading the devotional below.

Acts 2 is such an amazing chapter in the Bible that we will spend three days working our way through it. Today we’ll focus on the first thirteen verses, in which the Holy Spirit arrives in dramatic fashion. As we engage with each passage daily, continue to ask yourself, “In what ways do God’s words in the Bible equip me for mental health and emotional freedom?”

Recall from yesterday’s post that the disciples and many of Jesus’ followers were holed up in a room in Jerusalem waiting for God’s signal. And in case you have ever worried that you are going to miss the sign from God you are waiting for, check out the Holy Spirit’s entrance here. Just as everyone who was visited by an angel in the Bible is pretty much freaked out, those in the room are quite confused by the sudden indoor windstorm. It might sound cool to us now, but read the story and you’ll see that the initial response was mass confusion and chaos. People come running, they can’t believe that they are hearing about the works of God in every language represented. Many are amazed, but some in the crowd of people who rushed towards the commotion have their doubts. And thus the supernatural visitation of the Holy Spirit is reduced to accusations of drunkenness.

If we exist as mere spectators drawn to an exciting scene, then we will miss him entirely. Supernatural encounters only make sense to those who want them. Looking for earthly explanations will always result in seemingly reasonable, but faulty, answers. You may believe in Jesus, but the Holy Spirit might just freak you out a bit. How safe do you feel in your rational mind? The more security we have in our intellect and rationality, the less likely we will recognize the Holy Spirit when he shows up. But when we have faith in the supernatural realm and seek the Spirit, our minds will expand to all that is really going on around us. And that is the place of true freedom.

Supernatural encounters only make sense to those who want them.

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Acts 2:14-41

Take a moment to read Acts 2:14-41 before reading the devotional below.

When your first sermon ever involves zero schooling and a total lack of time to prepare and it wins over 3,000 people, you know the Holy Spirit is involved. Just three short years before, Peter was a smelly fisherman discouraged from a night of no fish. When Jesus overloaded Peter’s boats that day and invited him to become a “fisher of men,” he probably had this very moment in mind. (A few hundred fish practically sinking two boats doesn’t seem like such a giant miracle in comparison to 3,000 souls being saved by a single sermon.)

Peter’s sermon is so classically sermon-y: it starts with a joke, addresses the specific context of the Jewish audience, and goes on way too long. Remember that the crowd is murmuring rumors about drunkenness, which created a need for someone to step forward and make a claim about what was going on. Point #1: 9am is way too early for us to be this drunk. Point #2: The Old Testament (or the Jewish scriptures) directly prophesied about this exact moment. Point #3: We’re in the “last days” that we’ve been waiting for, so turn to God while you have time. (Side note: since time has continued on for 2,000 years since this sermon, we can safely say that we are still in the “last days” and these prophecies about the Holy Spirit remain true for us now.)

Peter had enough knowledge of the Old Testament and training from Jesus to speak with discernment, but his sudden boldness in leadership and his ability to publicly address a crowd in a compelling manner were provided on the spot. All Peter did was step forward in a moment that needed clarification. The Holy Spirit did the work to cause the crowd to believe.

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Acts 2:42-47

“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper, and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”

What gives you a deep sense of awe? Perhaps the perfect sunset, or the crashing ocean waves. Those things that inspire awe are the ones which appear untouched by the mess of the cursed world. And here in the early church we see something so beautiful and profound and it cultivated that same depth of wonder: community.

Those things that inspire awe are the ones which appear untouched by the mess of the cursed world.

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We try to experience community in a variety of ways.  Potlucks, prayer meetings, and even intentional shared living spaces. While certainly many a casserole dish has been praised on a Sunday night, I don’t think that quite registers on the “awe” scale. And sadly, many shared housing situations do not go well for long. So what went so right for the early church? Simple: they were operating in a specific move of the Holy Spirit.

Some have become so disillusioned by divisions and conflict within the church that they have decided that the early church was a one-shot deal. Sure, the Holy Spirit was moving then, but now we’re in some type of dead zone. Jesus is still on the throne, but the Spirit has gone silent.

Ephesians 1:14 says, “The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.” If God’s Spirit is not withheld, then there is always room for him to move. The harder we try in our own strength, the more we will fail. Embracing true humility and in every way devoting ourselves to prayer, teaching, and the miracles of God is the only path to re-living the community life of the early church.

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Acts 3

Take a moment to read the entire chapter of Acts 3 before reading the devotional below.

One of the most powerful human connections is eye contact. In this chapter of Acts, it is the catalyst to healing. Living in New England, eye contact is often avoided when passing someone on the street. In those moments when I catch someone’s eye, it always seems as if our souls are somehow communicating. You can see deeper into a person when you look into their eyes.

Peter gives an outcast dignity by demanding his eye contact. It almost seems as if he is sizing up what kind of miracle might be possible in the moment. And as the man is doing the most well-deserved victory dance of all time, a crowd gathers around Peter and John. What was once foolish brashness is now emboldened preaching, and Peter steps up to speak to the crowd. His message: this kind of miracle is regular, everyday stuff with Jesus, and even if you rejected him before it’s not too late now.

Miracles aren’t just possible, they are ordinary in God’s kingdom. That doesn’t mean we don’t have some significant spiritual warfare to fight through on earth, especially after 2,000 post-Jesus years of battles raging over kingdom territory. But just because there is a lot we don’t understand doesn’t mean we should give up. My home is a place in which miracles are normal. Healing is every day. Hope is running round the clock and love cascades like waterfalls. I will fight every battle placed in my path to get there someday (and bring as many friends with me as will come along).