Scripture Reading: Acts 4:1-22, Isaiah 45:5-7, 1 John 5:12
By nature, I am not brave and unashamed when it comes to sharing my faith in Jesus. Although I know Jesus commands us to “go…and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19), conflicting thoughts race through my head:
What if I come across as pushy?
Should I avoid talk of God for fear of offending others?
If they were interested, wouldn’t they ask me?
It’s not that I don’t want people to come to know the Lord—I do! The love of Jesus and the joy of spending eternity with Him is what I hope for the whole world. However, when it comes to actually sharing the gospel, intimidation and fear boast loud in my heart and mind.
In Acts 4, we see that Peter and John were taken into custody for preaching the name of Jesus in Solomon’s Colonnade. The two men, along with the other disciples, had recently watched Jesus’s death and resurrection unfold. Now they were beginning to carry the mantle of sharing the good news of Jesus with the world, and that mantle was heavy. Peter had once denied Jesus three times to save his own skin. How could the same man who sank into the sea for lack of faith be the same man who now spoke boldly to thousands?
“Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit…” (Peter 4:8).
Fear would have been a natural response for Peter and John after they were arrested for proclaiming Christ. Instead, we see Peter become filled with the Holy Spirit and increase in boldness, preaching the name of Jesus to the rulers and elders. It was not willpower that brought Peter courage; it was his empowerment through the Holy Spirit. Peter and John took the fear and intimidation wielded against them and traded it for Holy Spirit strength.
In a world that finds the message of the gospel irrelevant at best and offensive at worst, we may have many reasons to fear sharing our faith. However, the truth remains: There is no other name by which we are saved. Jesus is the hope of the world. And we are the ones who carry that message.
Jesus calls us to proclaim His name to the world, and He gives us all we need to obey that call. We, too, can share our faith with others when we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. In Peter and John we see two men who did not shrink back but used their voices with God-given power and authority. My prayer for us all is that when our fears are loud, we remember that God has equipped us with His strength, courage, and grace to proclaim one name: Jesus.
Written by Sarah Wood
Leave a Reply
123 thoughts on "No Other Names"
Amen! I’m a quiet talker, I often listen more than I speak, and sometimes the courage I need to speak isn’t there; these scriptures remind us to speak boldly for the truth, but especially in these trying times in the U.S. God, bless us with the strength to choose what is right.
CEE GEE…Not related to Acts… what does your John MacArthur study Bible notes say for John 4:6?
❤️
Amen
Yes Jesus! Jesus is the name. Thank you Jesus. Thank you for hope. For light. For empowering us with your strength. I pray for all of us to be emboldened like Peter and John and proclaim His name as loud as we can. Bring on the opportunities to proclaim with all our might Jesus is King. Amen.
Today’s reading really made me feel the tension between fear and faith. I see how boldly Peter and John speak, and it exposes how often I shrink back when things feel risky. But at the same time, it’s comforting to know that the same Spirit who strengthened them is present with me too
Amen, He is. ❤️
Amen ❤️
Today it is seven years since I was told officially that I had osteosarcoma of my right femur. I’ve gone through many surgeries since then and all I can say is to God be the glory. He really does use adverse situations to be glorified. We might not always understand it, but if we allow ourselves to be filled with him and his spirit, then we can boldly preach in any situation. This account of Peter and John points that out.
I cannot tell you how many people I have encountered in this journey who I never would have had the opportunity to speak with if we’re not for the diagnosis that I got. As long as we are trusting in the Lord, he will always be glorified in our situations.
Now that I am cancer free, I need to remember that story from seven years ago and continue to boldly share Jesus, no matter the situation.
Here is my prayer:
Lord, continue to fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I can do bold things in any situation. Whether in adversity or good times, please direct me and help me to live for you and share you and your goodness.
❤️❤️
❤❤❤
Amen Tricia!! Praise God for leading you through your journey!! Keep sharing!! Glad you shared it on your FB page!! That is a great way to share our testimonies!!
Praise the Lord His work and hand in your life. May he continue to be magnified and glorified thru your testimony ❤️
Thanking God for His Healing Hand in your life and your willingness to share your story with others.
I love Sarah Wood’s vulnerability in sharing her fears about sharing the hope we all have in Christ. I too am scared to talk about God at times. I am also scared to admit this fear to other Christians. It is not by my own strength that I can share this gospel, but by God’s strength. I pray that the Holy Spirit would fill me with his power and strength to share this truth with the world. I also pray for more of a passion to share the gospel. There are definitely some people I have a passion to share the gospel with and others who I don’t have as much of a passion to share.
AMEN! MAY IT BE SO!
“uneducated, common men” (Acts 4:13 ESV). This really stood out to me today. I was reading some old books by Kenneth E. Hagin, and some old notes from Ms. Kathryn Kulman. One of her letters really touched me. She offered what she called a prayer of “nothingness”: “Lord Jesus, if you can take nothing, use it. Take my hands, take my voice, take my mind, take my body, take my love—it’s all I have. If you can use it, I give it to you”. She was a redhead, divorced, no children, often viewed as odd, eccentric, even theatrical by many. And yet God used her mightily, an uneducated, common woman, surrendered entirely to Him. The same could be said of Kenneth E. Hagin, whose books I strongly recommend: The Believer’s Authority, Why Tongues (on how to pray in the spirit and build up on faith), and I Went to hell (my FAVOURITE book of his, I cried so much and felt shaken to the core of the goodness of God). He was bedridden as a boy, disabled with an incurable blood disease and a deformed heart, confirmed by more than 5 doctors who repeatedly reminded him and his grandma that he would die. He was raised by a single mother with four children, who later went blind and still managed to go to work. He died multiple times as a teenager, at the ages fifteen/sixteen, and was brought back to life by God, and healed. He was in hell and wrote that book. He too was considered uneducated, poor and ordinary, yet God raised him up with extraordinary authority. Another uneducated, common man. So, when we are tempted to think, I am divorced, I lack education, I live with sickness, and disability, financial strains, weird appearance, funny hair color, and other setbacks,…, we must think again. The uneducated common men before us lived that reality. Kathryn Kuhlman lived that reality. Kenneth E. Hagin lived that reality. God was not hindered. We need to think again. Renew the mind. Let our life be the offering of a living sacrifice. They offered themselves, not just their words. The depth of sacrifice determines the yielding, and the fruits (“other seed fell on good soil, where it sprouted, grew up, and produced a crop—one bearing thirtyfold, another sixtyfold, and another a hundredfold” Mark 4:8). The labour for God is never in vain. “For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then He will repay each person according to what he has done” Matthew 16:27. Even if the offering is the prayer of nothingness, from the sincere heart of uneducated common man/woman, God will use and turn it into His glory. Be blessed dear sisters.
My brother followed Rev Hagin for many years. He had a special needs son that he took for healing. Learned how to pray over him and prayed him through many seizures. He was not to live past 9 years old, but lived until 33.
“Even if the offering is the prayer of nothingness, from the sincere heart of uneducated common man/woman, God will use and turn it into His glory.”
✨
Likewise, prior to his healing the lame man in yesterday’s read probably didn’t think he had anything to offer God. Look at what his testimony wrought! ❤
“By nature, I am not brave and unashamed
when it comes to sharing my faith in Jesus… However, when it comes to actually sharing the gospel, intimidation and fear boast loud in my heart and mind.”
I can really relate to this. I am the same way. However, as I write this I’m reminded of how, as a child, I grew to perceive that “Sharing your faith” was passing out tracts, sometimes
going door to door and of course most always asking, “if you were to die tonight, do you know where you’d go?”
*I am a licensed foster parent and just had my first placement over Thanksgiving and Christmas last year. It was a great joy and a blessing. God DEEPLY showed me His love, care and compassion in HOW He worked things out for me emotionally and mentally when my foster daughter had to return to her former placement. I have NOT been ashamed or timid to share of God’s goodness and HOW HE worked and moved in that situation. Through Sharing that testimony, I am reminded and I am beginning to see & understand that this is also “sharing” my faith, just in a different more subtle way.
“In Peter and John we see two men who did not shrink back but used their voices with God-given power and authority.”
Oh Lord encourage and embolden us to share Your message of love and hope.
Amen! ❤
Witnesses is what is sticking out to me in the first 4 chapters of Acts. Sometimes even when I know a word I just need to look up the definition.
Witness – a person who sees, hears, or knows something firsthand and can give an account for it; someone who can confirm that something happened because they personally experienced or observed it.
Peter, John and the other apostles were witnesses by sight.
We are witnesses by testimony and transformed lives.
.
John 20.29 comes to mind – Because you have seen me, you have believed, BLESSED are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
.
No one can take our testimony’s from us. Our truth is our truth. We are witnesses to what God has done in our lives. I can CONFIRM that something has happened in my life because I have personally experienced it. It is my story and I am called to share it.
I read a few verses before our 1 John 5:12 scripture and it just tied everything that Holy Spirit was revealing to me today through our reading.
vs 10: The one who believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. The one who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony : God has given us eternal life, and this life is in the Son. The one who has the Son has life. The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
.
But many of those who heard the message believed and the number of the men came to about 5,000.
.
For WE are unable to stop speaking about what we have SEEN and HEARD.
.
Thank you Jesus that you have made me a witness, an uneducated and untrained girl like me, may I share the transforming love of Jesus to those around me so that more might believe.
Amen! Big believer in Sharing our Testimonies!! Our tests are to help other people in that same trial and to Glorify the Name above all names!
Wow! Thank you for this Kristy!
Amen!!!
Great truth, Kristy! Thank you for sharing! ❤
This a great reminder to always be BOLD in our faith!
Wow! Convicting message. I’m sure we’re all in the same boat there. We are called to not conform to the ways of the world and to share the message of Jesus. There is no other name!❤️
“There is no other name by which we are saved. Jesus is the hope of the world. And we are the ones who carry that message.”
.
Recently my husband started an evangelism “support group” at our church. The goal is for us to encourage one another in our sharing of the faith, and to share our testimonies when we have had the opportunity. As part of this group we are reading a book titled, Honest Evangelism by Rico Tice. One of the thigs he discusses in the book is a painline. The main reason we don’t want to cross the painline is because of fear – fear of being uncomfortable, fear of being mocked, fear of rejection and losing friends.
.
I am (still!!) learning and being reminded that the Holy Spirit that lives within me is powerful! He can (and will) give me and you the power to be bold and courageous for sharing the gospel. The results are up to Him!
.
Through being a part of the evangelism support group, it gave me the courage to give the gospel in the form of a Christmas letter to those I handed out Christmas cookies to. This week I saw 3 of the 6 that I gave this to and guess what – they all are still talking to me! They didn’t mention the letter, but that’s ok. I know they received it and now it is the Holy Spirit that will begin the work in their hearts.
I pray that in this new year I will be bolder and more courageous to spread the good news of Jesus because He is the hope of the world!
.
The Holy Spirit is not just powerful in us when it comes to spiritual things, but in every day things as well – like saying “no” to that piece of cake that I know I shouldn’t eat. Or saying “yes” to getting up and exercising. He is our help and strength in ever area of our every day life – we just need to remember His presence and ask for His help. I pray that in this new year I will often remember the Spirit’s presence and look to Him for the help and strength I need.
—
Happy Thursday She’s, and welcome to all the new ladies that are joining us this year. You are seen, you are loved! ❤️
I have been wondering about the letter and cookies. They might not know how to respond to it but some day if not already they will know it is the most loving thing that was ever done for them. I love the saying, Imagine getting to heaven and someone comes up to you and says I’m here because you weren’t afraid to tell me about Jesus! :)
❤️
I love that your husband started a group like that! It is so needed. We do have a “next steps” class offered and encouraged to get people to serve and step out in their faith, join groups and such! But not specifically on evangelism!! BUT…I am excited that we are planning our first, as a church Prayer Walk! To walk through our downtown, Fort Myers! Even though I can’t walk straight lines for distances…I just have to go!! lol! I have wanted evangelism like this to participate in! We have many churches that link together for many “Christian” activities! Especially on National Day of Prayer! We need “us” Christians that don’t like to do it on our own to do these organized events!! What an easy way to make an impact! And if your church doesn’t do it—-then start something! The leaders have a lot on their plate and would love for the lay people (old term) to step up and lead and organize!!
Agreeing with Rhobda here! Thanks Sharon! Our SS teacher takes time each week for us to share any ‘divine appointments’. That is also a great encouragement to go and tell. Our church held a prayer walk in the fall. Opportunities are all around us!
*Rhonda!*
I posted this by mistake on yesterday’s reading. I was catching up on last night’s posts before reading today’s readings. And I had two different SRT pages open. Please excuse my ditziness! Here is what I posted.
.
“ From Isaiah… “I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no other God but me.” (Being sworn into office on the Quran… bad and sad decision I’m sure God’s heart is breaking.)
.
How can we best witness to others… those are our marching orders. Let’s march!
.
Prayer request for a friend (Matt) that had emergency heart surgery last night. Not sure how his brain is yet, and he may lose his leg. Please pray for him, his wife and daughter and extended family. Thank you.”
Praying for Matt, his family, extended family, and his team of physicians and healthcare providers. ❤️
Praying for Matt and his family.
Praying for Matt, for healing & full recovery, and for God’s perfect peace to cover him and his family ❤️
Praying for his strong recovery.
Prayers for Matt and his family!
Prayers for full recovery for Matt! ❤
Praying for Matt’s healing/recovery, his medical team and his family.
Thank you, Jesus ❤️
Verse 12 is the stand out for me today even though the focus is on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 4:22 NLT
12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
John 14:6a NLT
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. …”
✨
What caused Peter to boldly make that declaration?! Notes I found:
NKJV Evangelical Study Bible
The Jewish leaders were provoked for two primary reasons: (1) the audacity of the apostles to teach people as if they were recognized rabbis (see v. 13) and (2) their emphasis on the resurrection, a doctrine that was denied by the Sadducees (see 23:8).
4:12-
The name of Jesus Christ was the center of contention (see vv. 7, 10, 12), as it ever will be. Peter’s address makes clear that salvation for Jew and Gentile alike is exclusively through Jesus Christ (see John 14:6). Among other things, salvation is not achieved simply on the basis of moral living or by belonging to the people of Israel.
.
John MacArthur Study Bible
Acts 4:8-filled with the Holy Spirit.
See note on 2:4. Because Peter was under the control of the Spirit, he was able to face persecution and preach the gospel with power (cf. Luke 12:11, 12). Rulers . . . elders. See note on v. 5.
✨
The NIV Application Bible posed these “Questions for Growth”:
On Acts 4:16-17
What causes hearts to remain hard even after great displays of God’s power? Why…?
✨
Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
Love the question- was just talking about it with a friend on more general terms of just what causes people to refuse change or act in humility and I think the answer to all of it is FEAR. For the members of the Sanhedrin to recognize the truth of who Jesus was, they’d have to deny it’s truth in order to keep the hierarchy of human power they possessed, or accept it as truth and react in humility, confession and submission to God’s authority. They were accustomed to acting FOR God instead of WITH God, while equating their power with his… So that’s my long answer ;) I think we all choose to deny truth in various places of our lives because we fear what humility will cost us. The enemy has us convinced that being low is weak, meanwhile God has told us when he sees us low (meaning living confidently-selfless, not self-depricating and insecure), he himself will lift us up. So in my understanding, all that humility REALLY costs is placed on God, not me. I can grow weary by having to lift myself up–and keep myself there– or I can live in peace and rest as he does the lifting and holding :)
Yes, good Heidi! (Is this the Heidi we know..or a new Heidi?!)
So good Cee Gee.! I liked the commentary on why the leaders were mad! We started a new jail study on “Our Identity in Christ.!” We sang afterwards “I Know A Name” by Elevation/BL…it was good, it might have to be our repeated song each week!
I thought of that song this morning as I read! ❤ Yes, I decided to share some different ones today!
Thank you, Heidi, for expounding on that! I agree with you 100%.
“I can grow weary by having to lift myself up–and keep myself there– or I can live in peace and rest as he does the lifting and holding :)” Again, why? :) ❤
Please keep sharing! ❤
What causes hearts to remain hard even after great displays of God’s power? Why…?
I think on this question alot.
Ditto, Kristy! I know the answer, as Heidi stated so succinctly! But I will never UNDERSTAND the why especially re: close relationships. Does that make sense?! ❤
Why? Why? Why? Like you, I can’t process the why. Praying for all!
❤
“In a world that finds the message of the gospel irrelevant at best and offensive at worst, we may have many reasons to fear sharing our faith. However, the truth remains: There is no other name by which we are saved. Jesus is the hope of the world. And we are the ones who carry that message.”
We are called to carry the message of great hope. Not easy at all because it is often not well received. I have found as I get older, I am bolder and less guarded in giving praise to the Lord in a setting or situation where others may not have a Christian view or be accepting. I would have been much more reluctant years ago. But also, I have truly experienced a miracle when the Lord saved my life and so part of me has a bit of an, (and I say this in the most humble and respectful way), “I don’t care what you may think” response because I know what the Lord did for me. Our hope, help, healing and Salvation is found only in Jesus (Acts 4:12) and we know this to be true.
Lord, help me to be bold, courageous and strong in testifying to the Truth of who you are, your power and the great hope we have in you. Amen
The song Great are You Lord comes to mind this morning. ❤️
Amen!
Amen, Wendy B
Amen! ❤
My prayer as I read the devotional just know and I repeated to myself in whisper voice (shh everyone is sleeping lol) …. We (I), too, can share my faith with others when I am empowered by the Holy Spirit. I want to keep in mind as Sarah reminded us this morning, “when our fears are loud” (admitting they can very loud), I can call on the Holy Spirit to guide and equip me…sigh… Jesus…I need strength and courage to proclaim YOUR name! Happy Thursday sweeties!
Amen! You are put just in God’s perfect place! I love that us She’s can remember the job you were in, and we were praying for something else, and God moved you with your beloved kiddos!! We have to remember things like that to fix our heart on today’ purposes to honor the only Name!! Unfolding everything for the good of those who love him! He was with you when you had the courage to leave, He was with you as you continued to provide for and raising your kiddo’s (they were teens!!), and He was with you in that job, speaking Jesus to those that didn’t want to hear! Thank you Jesus for always having you hand on Mari V’s life, her testimonies here, how we see the evidence! He praise you and thank you, and ask you to continue to squash any fear in her as she goes to court later in the coming months to get that door CLOSED finally! In Jesus name Amen!
❤️
Amen, Mari V. In my very sleepless night, I was calling on the Holy Spirit to to do just that… lead me, guide me, and give me strength.
❤
❤️
I was super afraid. I thought people would call me a Bible thumper. (is that the term) Anyway, I find when I let it naturally happen and trust God with timing it works out.
Yes, indeed, if it is his timing, it is right! Even though it may not seem evident to us, the seeds are thrown.
Amen!
Thank you, Sarah Wood for today’s devotional. So well written and speaks to my heart.
❤️✝️
No OTHER Name! If you want eternal life, if you believe in God, if you need help in your life—-There are NO OTHER names!! In a time where we think that everyone should follow their own truth, this can seem hard. We can’t step on their toes, we can’t offend, we can’t say we know more! But the name of Jesus IS the only name that saves! And we have to declare it, because how can we not when we know it!? How it has changed our lives! How we now live in the light!
The thing is many Christians have not been changed. Why is that? What I am finding is pointed out right here in today’s scripture- THEN PETER was filled with the Holy Spirit! We have to have an ongoing, working of the Spirit in us. The Spirit comes in at the point of Salvation. But we need the infilling/constant overflowing Spirit that brings us this covering, empowering believers to speak and live differently.
We should have an urgency because we know time is short, that things can change in an instant. We must have the desire, that what we have is worth sharing (and it is)! We must be REAL. Sharing authentically with our own personality, yet the Spirit using it for the people He hand picks for us! Our message must be clear and easy to understand just like today’s. Peter’s is pretty simple, but authoritative. Peter wasn’t adding a lot of taking away from the truth!
Mainly- my advice from my own testimony is that you HAVE to take the step of action out of your comfort zone and trust that the HOLY SPIRIT will help you and give you words. And it is not usually perfect in the beginning. You have to constantly fight the flesh and fears…and trust. Have faith. And then….it becomes reflexive and easy the more and more you trust in the ONE who WANTS us to GO and tell!! If He can use ME…he can use anyone. If he can use two fisherman, a tax collector…all these common, untaught men- why do we think we should leave it to pastors and theologians today? He raised ME from the dead, He saved me from the dark, He gave me forgiveness and restoration…I can share!! If I love him and overflow in gratitude to Him…I owe it to Him to give it to others! :)
“Spirit Lead Me” by Hillsong
“Spirit Lead Me’ by Influence Music and Michael Ketterer
❤️
Yes and amen!
Preach!
❤
Rhonda J, I will be rereading these worlds today.
Amen it’s not supposed to be perfect from the beginnings, the failures teach us humility and dependence on grace, sometimes for another hour, another day to make it through. When momentum is achieved, God again might take us to deeper water, lol, another level of risk taking, dependence on greater grace, and for some, even into the furnace where the Fourth Man appears, the lion’s den, to forge stronger and mightier character. If we have fear, we won’t even crawl out of bed. And what is it good for? Absolutely nothing.
No other name!❤️
❤️
Amen!! I was up at 2:30 AM anxious about upcoming events and feeling inadequate and unintelligent. The Lord’s timing is so kind and powerful and Acts 4 is speaking! Bless you all!
Hi! Just realized this after hearing the story a million times. Chapter 4, verse 22. The man who was healed was over 40 years old and his age was the reason they were released to continue preaching because everyone had seen him at the beautiful gate for over 40 years! How long he had wished for something better!!! What a difficult and amazing life purpose that could only come by waiting and trusting God’s faithfulness.
Yes! Amen Heather!! Waiting for Healing is hard. Yet, God has PURPOSE in everything!! His timing is right. We must trust in it and have faith, and Glorify his name IN the wait, in the valley. It has so much more meaning and influence than the mountain tops!! (although those are good…he for sure was thrilled at his healing!! And perfect for the witness of Peter!! And then, the time in the lameness seems to dissapear suddenly! We don’t moan and groan about how long we were lame…we rejoice and praise!!
2 Corinthians 4:17 “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison”
❤
Not willpower but empowerment! Holy Spirit- fill us today!
“Holy Spirit strength.” I need that. Lord, may I walk boldly with Holy Spirit strength.
Amen!
Good morning! I am humbled by the privilege to mentor a group of middle school kids who meet weekly to study God’s Word and learn to “go…and make disciples.” Not only do they share joy with their peers, but they also reach out to the staff! I think their favorite part of the morning is running to classrooms to pass out the leftover donuts and Scripture cards to teachers. Later in the day, teachers will come and thank me for the donut or the message they received. We should have that same enthusiasm for sharing the love of Christ.
How wonderful this must be to witness and be a part of! Oh if we could have more of this in our schools! Such a simple idea with eternal impact!!
What a blessing!
Beautiful! Thank you for being light in the schools and discipling disciples!! Teachers that have done this with my children are such GIFTS and answered prayers for me. I know you are alot of mom’s answered prayer. Bless you!
❤
❤️
Amen!
I am reading a book “the familiar stranger” to learn more about the Holy Spirit and its great to read alongside this study! My family and church have been comfortable speaking about and proclaiming the power of the Holy Spirit my entire life. But for some reason I have always felt a personal caution around it. I think that’s the enemy holding me back. I want to be like the disciples, filled with the power and boldness of the spirit when it comes to proclaiming the truth.
I did a book study on this last summer, and it is such an incredible book!! So glad you are reading it—it was life changing in how i viewed The Spirit!
OH, that book is sitting right next to me on my stand!! I have read pieces of it, but need to start at the beginning! Glad it will be a good one!
YES… A wonderful book!! Glad you found it! ♥️
Adding to list! Thanks for the recommendation!
May I never forget the work that Jesus has done for me… I think sometimes it can be so easy to move on from a hard season and forget how much I needed Jesus to sustain me, how much I relied on Him for strength and peace. And when I’m just going about my life, and things are “easier”, I tend to forget the depth of His grace, the realness of His presence and the power of His love. Peter and John didn’t forget… praying today that I wouldn’t either.
Love this reminder!
Yes, I always say WE are the stiff-necked Isaraelites! Going through the parting of the sea…to complain 3 days later!
That’s why I journal! It is a written reminder of HOW Jesus is constantly sustaining me…ESPECIALLY in the hard times! A lot of people make their own tour of stones of what Jesus does for remembrance!
Carrying this today..❤️
when I’m just going about my life, and things are “easier”, I tend to forget the depth of His grace, the realness of His presence and the power of His love.
I love the religious leaders response…they couldn’t deny the miracles, so all they said was “just don’t talk about it!” Did they not see that that didn’t work?
Great devo, Sarah Wood, thank you. I do measure my words when sharing with others, not sugar coating the need for Christ in our hearts but striving to plant a seed with truthful kindness.
.
What strength of pride in the leaders, who recognized the power of Jesus in Peter, and still schemed to try to stop the unstoppable? Lord, help me to recognize when pride in my own life draws me away from You.
.
Throwback memory when reading about Peter, John and the journey on which they are embarking to spread the name and truth of Jesus … to boldly go where no man has gone before (the original Star Trek tv series, 1966)
.
Side note: In NKJV, the section heading for Acts 4:13-22 is The Name of Jesus Forbidden. Immediately I thought of our media, where there is no ‘safe’ prime time on network tv (generally thought to be 8-9 pm) now and hasn’t been for years. The name of Jesus has been verboten for decades and yet swear words are acceptable and wind their way through program narratives and even game shows. You streamers may be laughing at my network tv reference, but that’s life in the country :)
.
AG – joining my sisters in prayer for your family as you all grieve your grandma’s passing.
CEE GEE – thank you for the wise words shared yesterday. And really awesome reminder to show love and concern “as your friend” or other connection
CHERYL BLOW – praying for relief of back pain
MOLLIE – praying for your husband’s healing
RHONDA J – ❤️
SHARON JERSEY GIRL – great news and looking back on the delays of that conversation, God was working all along!
KELLY (NEO) Amen to yesterday’s prayer!
❤ Great points! ❤
Amen
GM ladies! Now that I can back to work I don’t have time to comment in the AM so this is from yesterday. Before reading, I was praying for my best friend daughter Michelle. She is 23 and suffers from borderline personality disorder, depression, an eating disorder, and most recently was diagnosed with allopatia so clumps of her hair are falling out. This has been going on since she was in HS so more than 7 years. It seems so long and it is so hard to watch. We have prayed and prayed and prayed some more. Just yesterday as I was praying for her I told God I was giving up hope and asked Him for help to keep praying for her. Then I read SRT about the healing of the man born lame and felt the HS telling me not to give up hope. “By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Jesus has given him this perfect health in front of all of you.” Then a I was getting ready for work, I was listening to a message from Steven Furtick. He told of the story of a young girl who had a miraculous transformation and read parts of her email. It was one of those “this could only be God moments”. Again a reminder that even though we may not see how God is working in Michelle’s life, He is. Please pray that Michelle would accept the help offered to her (a month long impatient facility).
On a side note, I love the book of Acts! Blessings to all of you!
Praying for Michelle, Tami. There are so many young people struggling with these and other physical & mental health issues. Praying with you for her and others that the Lord would do a mighty work in their lives today.
Agreeing! ❤
Isn’t it amazing how God uses His word, and these devotionals to speak His truth to our hearts!
.
I will be praying for Michelle.
He is SO good. I love when that happens. He bends down to listen to us.
“For we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
.
Holy Spirit, bring to the forefront of my mind ALL the big and little things I have seen and heard the Lord do in my life and in the lives of others so that I cannot help but tell those who do not know You how good You are. And may they all give “glory to God over what had been done” (v.21).
.
MOLLIE – praying that your husband feels better today.
.
AG – praying the Lord comforts you and your family.
.
LL & TANYA – praying the Lord brings you wisdom in how to shine His love to the situations with your co-workers.
Amen, Kelly!
Amen!
❤️
Amen! ❤
I saw a post on social media yesterday about reframing our thoughts on Matthew 28:19. Yes, sometimes go & make disciples means physically going to another place to be a witness. Other times, it looks like inviting people into our lives & quietly proclaiming God’s love through showing up for them-letting the Holy Spirit speak through our actions first.
Susan, thank you for posting this! This is more my style… I’m not boldly proclaiming the gospel to anyone and everyone and often feel ashamed of that. I do much better one on one in relationship.
❤️
That’s been my approach in recent years. I’m the type of person that wants to build strong friendships and relationships and then lovingly point toward Christ my my words and actions. I’m not perfect at it but I think anyone who knows me would say firmly that I’m a Christian.
❤️
❤️
May the Holy Spirit allow boldness to grow in my heart. May i not miss any opportunity to share the Good News
Peter and John continue to be clear about what they have seen and heard: “that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by Him this man is standing before you well. … And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” As the supporting Isaiah passage states: “I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; …. I am the LORD, who does all these things.”
What we see in the early believers (mostly ordinary people) is how their time with Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit gives them boldness to share the gospel with those that don’t believe.
Father, help us keep our focus on Jesus and walk in the Spirit so we may do the same! “For the truth remains, there is no other name by which we are saved. Jesus is the hope of the world”! Amen.
Amen! This sums it all up in a POW scripture!
Amen!