Today’s WORD (Text) Acts 4:5-12
5/ The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6/ with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high priestly family. 7/ When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8/ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9/ if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and asked how this man has been healed, 10/ let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 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.”
Today’s Witness
No Other Name: The faith of Peter and the earliest apostles in the very name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is unsurpassed by any adherents to any other religious faith. Following Pentecost, after the church had received power from on high, they exercised their faith to preach the gospel, perform miracles of healing, baptize in the name of Jesus, and to perform so many incredible works of faith that the Christian church grew rapidly and globally. We continue today as the heirs of a tremendous evangelical heritage, one of good-newsing our world of the unsurpassed love of God who was working through Jesus Christ to reconcile humanity. God is still at work in Christ through the Church, and so long as Christians promote the message, model his teachings, and practice radical love in Christ’ Name, the Christian movement will continue expanding throughout the global community.
Today’s Invitation
What does it mean for you in practice and for your local church that there is power in the name of Jesus?
Today’s Prayer
Dear Lord, we worship you today and we confess that there is life-giving power in the name of Jesus. Grant to us the holy boldness that comes with your Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel and to perform mighty acts in your name. We confess that ours is a generation filled with skepticism, cynicism and disbelief toward religious movements and traditions. Always remind us that in proclaiming your name we are not promoting a tradition but lifting up the only begotten Son of God. Grant us courage and clarity to always preach and serve in your matchless name, Amen.
The Passionary Intention
Today, I choose to live my life with passion. Today, I intend to follow Christ more nearly, love more dearly and incarnate God’s grace more clearly by asking myself three questions:
- Where will I follow Christ today?
- To whom shall I demonstrate Jesus’ love and justice today?
- How can I play my part in practicing the presence of Christ, right here, right now?
The Passionary Movement Word and Witness devotion is published weekdays (Monday – Friday). Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, Executive Director of American Baptist Home Mission Societies is the author of today’s devotion.
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
Today’s WORD (Text) Acts 4:5-12
5/ The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6/ with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high priestly family. 7/ When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8/ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9/ if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and asked how this man has been healed, 10/ let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 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.”
Today’s Witness
No Other Name: The faith of Peter and the earliest apostles in the very name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is unsurpassed by any adherents to any other religious faith. Following Pentecost, after the church had received power from on high, they exercised their faith to preach the gospel, perform miracles of healing, baptize in the name of Jesus, and to perform so many incredible works of faith that the Christian church grew rapidly and globally. We continue today as the heirs of a tremendous evangelical heritage, one of good-newsing our world of the unsurpassed love of God who was working through Jesus Christ to reconcile humanity. God is still at work in Christ through the Church, and so long as Christians promote the message, model his teachings, and practice radical love in Christ’ Name, the Christian movement will continue expanding throughout the global community.
Today’s Invitation
What does it mean for you in practice and for your local church that there is power in the name of Jesus?
Today’s Prayer
Dear Lord, we worship you today and we confess that there is life-giving power in the name of Jesus. Grant to us the holy boldness that comes with your Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel and to perform mighty acts in your name. We confess that ours is a generation filled with skepticism, cynicism and disbelief toward religious movements and traditions. Always remind us that in proclaiming your name we are not promoting a tradition but lifting up the only begotten Son of God. Grant us courage and clarity to always preach and serve in your matchless name, Amen.
The Passionary Intention
Today, I choose to live my life with passion. Today, I intend to follow Christ more nearly, love more dearly and incarnate God’s grace more clearly by asking myself three questions:
The Passionary Movement Word and Witness devotion is published weekdays (Monday – Friday). Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, Executive Director of American Baptist Home Mission Societies is the author of today’s devotion.
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash