Peace is better than prosperity. If there is discord at your house, money won’t fix it. Couples think financial problems are the source of their marital woes, but poor communication and lack of forgiveness are nearly always at the root. Start talking and forgiving one another, then sharing a PB&J sandwich will feel like a sumptuous feast.
Today’s OT and NT reading were both about the Temple. Here, Stephen gives his defense before the Sanhedrin before they have him stoned. He tried to turn them from man-made religion to God’s graceful provision in Jesus. But they wouldn’t listen.
Are you having trouble at your house? Marital woes? Parenting fatigue? Money worries? Ask God to help. There are too many factors beyond your control. Give God control. Give Him your spouse, your marriage, your kids, your money … Give God your house! Let Him build a family that lasts forever.
Planting seed is hard work. You dig, you plant, then you wait to see if anything will come up. This season of working and waiting is difficult. Yet when you are faithful to plant good seed, one day the harvest comes. So don’t dig up in doubt what you planted in faith. Stay faithful and wait. The harvest is coming.
When? Daily. Where? Large gatherings in the Temple and small groups in homes. What message? Jesus is the Christ!
Do others recognize you as one who has “been with Jesus?”
Worship means to ascribe worth to one who is worthy. It means to give what the recipient is worth. Worship should cost us something. Since Christ has saved us, He is worthy of our all. What have you budgeted for worship?
The central truth of Christianity is the resurrection of Christ. This is the message that Peter preached at Pentecost that pierced the hearts of his hearers. Peter was an eye witness of this resurrected Christ. Our faith rests on the historical evidence of the resurrection.
Christ’s strategy for reaching the world with the gospel. Can you think of a more profound way to spend your life? I can’t.
Peter learned that loving Jesus means more than words. Singing love songs to Jesus is good. But the worship that Jesus calls us to means that our love for Him looks like love for His sheep. Jesus still asks, “Do you love me?”