Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

PENTECOSTS PAST AND PRESENT

“When the day of Pentecost came it found them gathered in one place.” —Acts 2:1 One-hundred-and-twenty of Jesus’ disciples had been devoting themselves to constant prayer for nine days (Acts 1:14). As they began praying at about 9 AM on the tenth day, “suddenly from up in the sky there came a noise like a strong, driving wind” (Acts 2:2). After the Holy Spirit introduced Himself audibly, He manifested Himself visibly when “tongues as of fire appeared” (Acts 2:3). These exterior manifestations indicated interior transformations in the hearts of Jesus’ disciples (see Acts 15:9). Then they spoke from the abundance...

HAPPY ENDINGS

“Follow Me.” —John 21:22 As we near the end of the Easter season and prepare for a new Pentecost, the last word from the Acts of the Apostles is that we, like Paul, are to preach and teach about Jesus and His kingdom “with full assurance, and without any hindrance” (Acts 28:31). The last word from John’s Gospel is that we, like Peter, are to follow Jesus and refuse to be distracted with other matters (Jn 21:22). In other words, let’s bolt from the upper room of Pentecost and follow Jesus into the streets, homes, and neighborhoods, where we will...

DO YOU LOVE JESUS?

“Peter was hurt because He had asked a third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ So he said to Him: ‘Lord, You know everything. You know well that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.’ ” —John 21:17 If we love Jesus, we will feed His sheep, that is, we will feed God’s people with God’s Word, for “not on bread alone is man to live but on every utterance that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4; Dt 8:3). Peter showed his love for Jesus by standing up on the first Pentecost Sunday, proclaiming Jesus as...

THE PROBLEM OF TRUTH AND LOVE

“A dispute arose between Pharisees and Sadducees which divided the whole assembly.” —Acts 23:7 We must be men and women of the truth, for God is the Truth (Jn 14:6) and the Holy Spirit guides us to all truth (Jn 16:13). The Church is “the pillar and bulwark of truth” (1 Tm 3:15), and God’s “word is truth” (Jn 17:17). Thus, Jesus’ disciples are “consecrated in truth” (Jn 17:19). Men and women of truth must stand up for the truth and “even to the death fight for truth” (Sir 4:28). However, we must do this in love (see Eph 4:15),...

THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

“Be on guard, therefore. Do not forget that for three years, night and day, I never ceased warning you individually even to the point of tears.” —Acts 20:31 Paul warned the Ephesian Christians individually for three years, night and day. He warned them of “savage wolves” from their own number who would distort the truth and lead astray any who follow them (Acts 20:29-30). Guarding Christians against false teaching is a major emphasis in the New Testament. Jesus warns us against wolves in sheep’s clothing (Mt 7:15) and hireling shepherds who don’t protect the sheep (Jn 10:12-13). Paul told Timothy...