Good morning, everyone.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 4:4, “However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”
Just to recap the events that have gotten us to where we are, Peter and John were on their way to the 3:00 prayer service at the temple when they stopped and healed a lame man in his forties. In his rejoicing and celebrating his newfound ability to walk, the man drew quite a crowd to himself and his healers on the porch of the temple, as the onlookers recognized with astonishment the leaping man as the same one who had been asking them for handouts for years. Seizing the moment before this impromptu congregation of sorts, Peter explained to them the source of the power that had healed the man. His message included harsh words against these same people who had a few days earlier hollered for the murderer Barabbas to be released and Jesus to be crucified. But within Peter’s convicting message of condemnation and guilt was the sweet thread of hope woven by the God who had authored it all. Peter explained that God had foretold all that would befall Christ, and what’s more, God had raised Jesus from the dead to deliver every one of them from their iniquities, just as He planned. Their guilt had become their pathway to forgiveness and righteousness. But before Peter could finish speaking, the authorities swooped in and whisked him and John away to jail, where they now await a hearing before the high priest and whoever else he invites. And what the apostles didn’t realize was that many of those who heard the word believed. Plain and simple.
Except, it was anything but plain and simple. The new believers’ first exposure to the gospel was seeing its declarers arrested. Did they believe in anticipation that the same could happen to them? Was it still going to be worth it when they woke up in the morning? I mean, they hadn’t developed a relationship with Peter or John or been meeting with them over coffee for the past several weeks to discuss life, so could hearing the word really be enough? Was God going to be able to do what Peter and John didn’t get to? Scripture tells us He was, and He is. Jesus and His Word is enough. The gospel still is the power of God to salvation. So put it out there that the people who hear might believe.
As we seek Him today, look for an opportunity to be about the gospel. Let someone’s first exposure to Jesus have an eternal impact.
Have a lovely Tuesday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
