We Are Acts 29

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/lE17Ky-0Ojk?si=kRiKsiW6AaR1i6e_

“We Are Acts 29”

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

I just finished up a devotional in the YouVersion Bible app on the book of Acts.  The last devotional in the study really stuck with me how it ended and I’ll never forget how it was worded.  The devotional talked about how Acts 28 ends and how it doesn’t continue with Acts 29 to tell us more of the story of how the spread of the Gospel continues.  Then these words stuck with me, “But in a very real sense, we are Acts 29!”

 

I thought it was really cool how the devotional ended this way and it really hit me that we are indeed the continuation from Acts 28 to make the story continue of the spread of the Gospel.  We are given a command and a charge to take the Good News everywhere we go, every day of life!  Jesus didn’t only tell His closest men to carry this on, He also instructs us to do the same.

 

Jesus lives in each one of us giving us wisdom as the Holy Spirit guides us to spread His love.  We are called to be Acts 29.  We are called to carry His Gospel in every relationship we have and every conversation that takes place.  Now, I’m not saying you need to shove this down people’s throats and bring God up in every single sentence.  You need to be creative and connect with people in a very genuine way.  Don’t go after them just to “convert” them.  Be genuine and caring, building a relationship.  Show you care as you share your life with each person.

 

I know in my day to day life, I am so guilty of being in my own world and doing my own thing.  I go to work, do my job, come home and be with my family.  I’m also involved in my church every week and I love to mingle with people.  However, God calls me to share with people who don’t know Him and that honestly scares me.  I want to be Acts 29 and continue the story faithfully.  I hope you do as well.

 

I encourage you to take time to read through Acts.  It might take a few days or longer, but read through and be reminded of the great story of the early church and how the power of God burned inside people and how that fire spread. 

 

I also encourage all of us to seriously consider how we continue the story of the spread of the Gospel each and every day in our lives.  What does Acts 29 look like in our lives?  How are we doing?  Is the story full of selfishness or are we thinking more of others and how we can serve?

React Or Respond

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/Ky3lRjsHIP0?si=-LgpC3NN-1iTYM_m

“React Or Respond?

Acts 16:23-25 NIV

After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.  When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.  About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

 

This passage came up in my devotional morning time the other day.  Acts is one of my most favorite books of the Bible as we read about the start of the early church and how passionate people were and how fast the church grew. 

 

This specific story of Paul and Silas in prison always amazes me.  The part I am most amazed by is right after verse 24.  They’ve been thrown into prison and beaten severely. 

 

PAUSE

If I were in their shoes, I know that I would be frustrated about my situation and probably looking at others, giving them a look of “Can you believe what they just did to us?”  Then once in the cell, I know for sure I’d be going through the whole scenario in my head and thinking “What did we do wrong?  How could we have avoided that?  Can you believe they would do such a thing to us?  I think we should file a report and complain to someone about how we were treated.”

 

UNPAUSE

No, Paul and Silas did NOT do anything I just described above.  They started praying and singing!  What???  How could they possibly have that attitude?  Aren’t they upset about what happened?  They’ve just been severely mistreated and all they do is start singing and praying.

 

When I think of this story, I think about how often I find myself reacting to situations instead of responding as I should.  When we react to something, we tend to not think rationally and we go off on some tangent and often say things we don’t mean.  However, when we respond, we’re often thinking through the situation, taking a few moments to gather our thoughts and figure out the best way to handle what is going on. 

 

I would encourage all of us to work on responding instead of reacting.  It’s so easy to just react, but we should focus more to respond with a loving heart and gestures that minister to others around us.  It was a pivotal moment for Paul and Silas in what they did after they were beaten.  Look what God did!!!  And, look what God could and can do when we let Him use us in situations to respond instead of react. 

 

Responding almost always seems to land us in a better outcome.