Monday, May 25, 2026

Opening Scripture

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 2 Timothy 1:7-10

Opening Prayer

Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for your love and mercy, your protection and provision, your comfort and healing. Help me to trust you in all things and orient my life toward you today. May my mind’s attention and heart’s affection be on you. Guide my choices and direct my decisions for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Acts 4:23-37

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.’

“Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Reflection  

Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday. It marks the Holy Spirit coming to indwell and empower followers of Jesus – uniting Jews, Gentiles, and everyone else who puts their faith in Him – to become a new humanity known as the Church.

This week, we will journey through the book of Acts, with some long readings and exciting adventures. Luke’s second volume – The Acts of the Holy Spirit – records the spread of Christianity in the first-century Roman Empire as believers carried the gospel throughout that part of the world.

It all started in Jerusalem at the Feast of Pentecost. When Peter stood up among the crowd of pilgrims gathered for the festival, the Holy Spirit convicted them of their sin and their need for repentance and salvation. Three thousand people placed their faith in Jesus and were baptized that day. The Church was born!

These believers started meeting regularly to worship, pray, and learn what this new way of life entailed. They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching. They ate together and enjoyed one another’s company. They shared what they had with each other, and God worked amazing miracles among them. They were happy and blessed, and the Church kept growing.

One afternoon sometime later, Peter and John were heading to the temple for prayer. At the “Beautiful Gate” (covered in gold and silver) that separated the Court of Gentiles from the Court of Women (an area where anyone could go), they encountered a lame beggar. Peter told him, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” The man jumped up and started praising God, an understandable reaction after being crippled for forty years.

This naturally attracted another large crowd around Solomon’s Porch. The temple regulars were used to seeing this man begging. His pitiful, downcast presence was a familiar sight. What shocked them was seeing him jumping and dancing and praising God. Similar to the rushing wind and tongues of fire days before, this miracle provided an opportunity for Peter to preach.

“By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. Repent and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”

About two thousand people responded to the invitation that evening, and the Church kept growing. The Jewish religious leaders, however, were not celebrating. In fact, they took exception to Peter and John telling the people that Jesus was alive, especially after the apostles had told the crowd: “You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.”

The temple guards arrested Peter and John and put them in jail overnight. The next day, the whole Jewish Royal Family gathered to interrogate the disciples. Filled with the Spirit, Peter pulled no punches! “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

The proud, self-righteous religious leaders were stumped. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

That brings us to today’s passage. On their release, Peter and John gathered with other believers to report what happened. They prayed for boldness, and God answered their prayers. “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them.”

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Christians

There’s power in the name of Jesus! So much so that the Jewish leaders wouldn’t even say it. Like Voldemort in Harry Potter, Jesus was “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named” to the religious authorities. They knew Jesus was special, but He was a threat to their way of life, and they tried to eliminate this movement, led by His followers.

Upon their release from jail – having been threatened by these authorities – the disciples didn’t ask God to smite their tormenters or protect them from further intimidation. They prayed: “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And after they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

When the self-important Jewish Royal Family gathered that day in all their pomp and circumstance, they assumed they were in complete control of the situation. Certainly, their stature in the community and the security force at their disposal would be sufficient to frighten Peter and John into submission. But it didn’t work.

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

There’s power in the name of Jesus! As we see throughout the book of Acts, whether it’s baptizing, healing, exorcising evil spirits, praying, or preaching, Jesus has ultimate authority over all things. Jesus is the name above every name. Ultimately, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. As His ambassadors and representatives, we’ve been entrusted with sharing His story and advancing His kingdom.

Can people tell that you have been with Jesus?

Have you prayed that God would enable you to speak His truth with boldness?

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!