Tuesday – Read II Kings 12-14; Acts 4:5-7; Luke 22:66-71; Philippians 2:9-11. By What Name? The Sanhedrin was made of 71 elders or judges who acted as the Supreme Court of Israel. Peter and John stood before the same Sanhedrin who condemned Jesus to death. These religious elites were not happy that a man who had been lame since birth could now walk and leap for joy. They were less concerned with the what and more concerned with the how. “By what power or by what name did you do this?” This would tell them how to judge what had happened. They thought they had silenced the name of Jesus, but there is power in the name of Jesus. It is the name above every name.  At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. As you pray, kneel before Jesus and praise him as your Lord and Savior.

 

Wednesday – Read II Kings 15-17; Acts 4:8-10 and Luke 12:8-12. Testify! Jesus knew that his disciples would face resistance and even persecution. He told them, 11 “When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.” Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit as he stood before the Sanhedrin, and he gave Jesus the glory for healing the lame man. Then Peter proclaimed that these religious elites crucified Jesus, but God raised him from the dead. These leaders are not aligned with God’s purposes. They too need to repent. When you remember that Peter denied even knowing Jesus when he was confronted by a servant girl, it is amazing to see how he boldly proclaimed the Good News when he was confronted by the same religious elites who condemned Jesus to death. He was able to do so because the Holy Spirit empowered him to preach. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you the courage to share the Good News of Jesus even when you meet resistance.

 

Thursday – Read II Kings 18-19; Acts 4:11-12; Psalm 118:21-29; Luke 20:9-19; I Peter 2:4-9. Cornerstone. In the Parable of the Vineyard, Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22, 22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. He said that he was the Cornerstone. Now, Peter says the same: 11 “This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ 12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” The central question in life is this: How will you respond to Jesus? Will you reject him, or will you bow to him, follow him, and serve him as your Lord? Peter uses the Greek word, sozo, which mean to heal or to save. As you pray, thank Jesus for healing you and saving you from your sins.

 

Friday – Read II Kings 20-22; Acts 4:13-19. Censored. The religious elites were astonished by the boldness of Peter and John, because they were uneducated common men. They knew that they were Jesus’ disciples. They could not disprove that a healing had occurred, but they wanted to keep the Jesus Movement from spreading. After conferring with one another, they attempted to censor Peter and John by charging them not to teach or speak in the name of Jesus. Ironically, these religious elites had nothing to say in the face of what the Holy Spirit had done. In what ways do the powers that be attempt to censor the Good News today? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you share the Good News with people.

 

Saturday – Read II Kings 23-25; Acts 4:19-22 and Luke 21:10-19. We Cannot Keep from Speaking. Peter and John refused to be censored. “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” When you have Good News, you just can’t keep it to yourself. You have to share it. You have to tell it to someone who needs Good News. Think of someone you know who could use some Good News. Consider how you might share the Good News of Jesus with that person through a letter, a text, or a conversation. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you boldly share the Good News with that person this week.