Relevant Text: Acts 4:19-20 (underlined)
Full Text: Ezra 4, Acts 4

Effective Speaking | Some people are expected to be effective speakers – they’re well-educated (Clinton) or well-trained (Reagan). But how does an uneducated and unskilled person become a good orator? After Jesus’ ascension, the disciples regularly preached the gospel. Once, after healing a lame beggar, Peter and John were arrested for publicly preaching to over 5,000 people. The next day, the Jewish leaders asked them, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” [1]. Peter answered that they preached in the name of Jesus – “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” [2]. Then, Luke notes, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus” [3]. What was the secret to their testimony?

The Non-Secret | Although education has value, it will not turn anyone into a courageous and clear spokesperson for the truth. We don’t need to be formally educated to boldly communicate the gospel. Even Jesus himself surprised the Jewish leaders for his boldness apart from education: “How is it that this man [Jesus] has learning, when he has never studied?” [4]. Should we attempt boldness any differently? As he said, ”A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher” [5].

The Secret | The secret to their testimony was their knowing Jesus. Our courage comes from spending time with him. As Peter said to his inquisitors, “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” [6]. They saw and heard what Jesus said and did because they spent time with him. Thus, they were confident in the truth and able to proclaim it boldly. Let us also, therefore, speak with clarity and courage because of the time we have spent with him.

Prayer | Lord, Like the disciples, as we spend time with you, we cannot help but testify boldly with our lips and with our lives about what we have seen and heard. Your Word is truth because it brings us into the light of the Living Truth, Jesus Christ. May we not pursue effective testimony apart from spending time with you and, for those of us who feel uneducated or unskilled, let us boast in our weaknesses that your power may dwell in us all the more [7]. Amen.

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Footnotes

Relevant Text: Acts 2:38-39
Full Text: Ezra 2, Acts 2

Redemption | There’s no better way to begin the new year than with the reminder that the One who sits on the throne of the universe says, “Behold, I am making all things new” [1] – a promise so important that its certainty is reinforced: “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true” [2]. Indeed, everything in history – including the events of our lives – connects with the great work of God in the redemption of Christ [3]. It works the same today as it has in the past.

Tragedy | Pharaoh finally got it. After the angel of death swept through Egypt, killing every firstborn child (even his own) except those whose doorposts were sprinkled with the blood of the Passover Lamb, Pharaoh freed the Israelites from slavery. Fifty days later, Moses descended Mount Sinai with stone tablets containing the Law of the Lord [4] and was shocked by what he saw. The people of the Lord were worshipping a golden idol. He shouted, “Who is on the Lord’s side? Come to me” [5]. When only the Levites came, however, he told them to kill the others [6]. Three thousand people died that day.

Salvation | Fifty days after the firstborn Son of God was slain, the Spirit came down and wrote the Law of the Lord on hearts of flesh [7]. Peter then explained the gospel: “God has raised this Jesus to life … Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear” [8]. The crowd was cut to the heart and asked how to respond. He answered, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” [9]. In other words, the sprinkled blood of Jesus the Passover Lamb spares those who trust in him and releases them from slavery to sin. Three thousand people were saved that day.

Prayer | Lord, We ascribe greatness to you because your salvation – not our sin – is the last word. Today, as we look back on the past year, we confess that we have been great sinners. Yet, rooting our hearts in your redemption, we confess that you are a great Savior. Therefore, redeem our past and increase our faith to believe the certainty of your promise to make all things new. Let us not be overcome by guilt, but anxious for glory. Amen.

Relevant Text: Is. 16:9-10

Broken | In Fall 2003, seven weeks before my wedding was meant to take place, my then-fiancé and I were having sushi and working out some of my doubts about our compatibility. Although he assured me that our differences were not dealbreakers, he failed to mention his own doubts – doubts that he had already shared with our pastor. Then, a week later, he called off our wedding. I was shocked and confused. Then sad and angry. By Spring 2004, however, I was pretty much over it. My boss had offered me a new job in New York and I was excited to get a fresh start. From what I heard, however, he wasn’t doing well. He was struggling with guilt, which had become mild depression. How was I supposed to feel about this? Should I have been happy that he was hurting, as he had hurt me? [1]

Weeping | In forgiving others, God calls us to grieve – not gloat – over their calamities. Solomon wrote, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased” [2]. When we do this, we bear the image and heart of our Father – who wept as He justly judged Moab: “Therefore I weep with the weeping of Jazer … for over your summer fruit and your harvest the shout has ceased. And joy and gladness are taken away from the fruitful field … I have put an end to the shouting” [3].

Forgiving | No, forgiveness does not require us to ignore sin or its horrible consequences [4]. Yet, that doesn’t mean that we can be vindictive towards those who hurt or wrong us. When Thomas Watson asked, “When do we forgive others?”, he answered, “When we strive against all thoughts of revenge; when we will not do our enemies mischief, but wish well to them, grieve at their calamities, pray for them, seek reconciliation with them, and show ourselves ready on all occasions to relieve them” [5].

Praying | Lord, People wrong us all the time – whether it’s the person who has seriously injured us or the person on the subway who annoyed us. In all these instances, we struggle with wanting to get even. Yet, we know that you died for us when we were still your enemies. Therefore, we pray to stand in the power of your forgiveness, ready to love others with forgiving hearts. Amen.

Relevant Text: Is. 14:13-14 (underlined)

Desire | All of us want to be like God. After all, we were made in His image [1] and His Word exhorts us to conform to Christ [2]. In the garden, however, our sinful desire for His authority moved into the very center of our fallen nature. It started when our ancestors ate the fruit [3] and continued when Babylon boasted, “I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God. I will set my throne on high … I will make myself like the Most High” [4]. Yet, why is this wrong? Can God run our lives any better than we can?

Knowledge | We lack knowledge; He is omniscient. Thus, as Job issues his indictment, God interrupts: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” [5]. He reminds Job that He alone – without any help – formed the earth, created the seas, summoned the dawn, and sculpted the depths [6]. He alone knows where to find light and darkness, storehouses of snow, and stars in heaven [7].

Power | We lack power; He is omnipotent. Not only does God know all things throughout all time, He also has power to accomplish His purposes [8]. Thus, He reminds Job that He alone – without any help – satisfies the hungry animals, brings life to their young, frees the wild beasts, and gives flight to the birds [9].

Love | We lack love; He is omnibenevolent. God is not better equipped to be in charge just because He knows everything and can do everything; He also is good and right and just. He is not capricious, arbitrary or irrational. His power has purpose and its purpose is consistent with His excellence. He works for the good of those who love Him [10]. He does not have ulterior motives.

Prayer | Lord, We often indict you for not working in our lives as we would. Yet, we confess with Job: “I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know” [11]. We are surrounded by mysteries and do not know the first thing about the ten million things you do in every moment. Thus, we joyfully hand our doubt and confusion over to you – for you know all things, have the power to accomplish all things, and choose to do all things for our good. Therefore, make us humble people, as we seek to be like you in love and service and unlike you in authority and might. Amen.

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Footnotes

Relevant Text: Is. 5:12-13
Full Text: Is. 4:2-5:30

Advocacy | In the world of legal ethics, there is no zeal apart from knowledge. Lawyers are required to represent their clients “zealously” [1] and, therefore, they must have complete knowledge of the facts. If clients withhold relevant information – even bad or damaging facts – their lawyers cannot represent them zealously. Recall A Few Good Men. Downey told his lawyers that he was ordered to give a Code Red by Kendrick, but he failed to tell them that he himself never actually heard Kendrick give the order. When that information came out during cross-examination, his lawyers had to regroup because they knew that his having received the order second-hand was unfavorable to the case. They also knew, however, that they had to address it if they had any hope of winning.

Worship | Similarly, when it comes to worshipping God, there is no zeal apart from knowledge. Yes, zeal for God is essential [2], but our passion for Him is weak and vulnerable when it is not based on knowledge. As Isaiah prophesied, the Israelites worshipped with zeal, but they were exiled because their zeal lacked knowledge: “They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the Lord, or see the work of his hands. Therefore my people go into exile for lack of knowledge” [3]. Our zeal must be based on that same knowledge – the deeds of the Lord and the work of His hands. Today, we find that knowledge in the Word. The Bible is a wellspring for spiritual thirst. Not only is it a living power for the soul, it is also a double-edged sword for cross-examination. Even Jesus himself frequently settled important issues – divorce and remarriage, the Sabbath, worship and praise, the resurrection, eternal life – by referencing the Scriptures [4]. The Bible itself, however, is powerless as mere paper. We must open its pages and read it in order for its meaning and power to be unleashed with zeal in our lives.

Prayer | Lord, Raise our affections in accordance with truth. Cultivate our spiritual appetites daily by laying us in the way of allurement that is found in your Word. Let us long for the education of our minds and never let us think that studying your Word is bland. Instead, quicken our hearts throughout our lifetimes to long to unlock the riches of truth found in the Bible. Amen. [5]

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Footnotes