Daily Reading: Acts 4
Scripture Focus: ...greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. (Acts 4.2)
Devotional Thought: Did you know that there are websites filled with ideas about how to annoy people? Ha! Who needs a website? I know what to do: Just be happy! That doesn't always work, but the sad reality is that it works too often. Many people are just not happy unless others around them are unhappy!
Did you ever wonder why the stiff shirts were annoyed with the apostles for proclaiming Jesus? Besides the fact that they didn't want to see anybody else happy, I think it's because they didn't think they needed Jesus. They didn't need any resurrection. They had this life mastered, thank you, and that was enough.
Those spiritual leaders in Jerusalem were in denial. Like many today, they denied their need to be raised from...
· Spiritual death. They saw themselves as righteous, not needing what Jesus has come to give: new birth. Today, the concept of sin, and subsequent alienation from God, is seen as archaic. Everybody has to find their own way, and if seems right to you, then it is legitimate.
· Cultural death. Those leaders couldn't grasp the fact that their nation was dying from rot within. Our culture shows obvious signs of disease and death. Yet, many are in denial about it, or they think that the solution is in more government and more laws - and less Jesus!
· Eternal death. Some of those leaders didn't believe in life after death, so they had no need for a resurrection. It greatly annoyed them that Jesus offered eternal life!
Go out and annoy Satan today. Proclaim hope in Jesus!
Prayer: Jesus, I don't really want to be annoying, but I do want to bear witness to the hope, the joy, the peace, and the love that you give me. If that annoys someone, may you convict them of their need of you. And, help me to always be caring and respectful. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 66.8-15
8 Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, 9 who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. 10 For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. 11 You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; 12 you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.
13 I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you, 14 that which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble. 15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah