Resilience — Strength - Tuesday
TODAY’S VERSE
Acts 3:18
But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. (ESV)
As a PGK (preacher’s grandkid), one of my favorite pastimes as a middle schooler was standing in the pulpit after service on Sundays and imitating whoever preached. I’m not known for my impersonations, but my cousins and friends were usually doubled over in tears. My parents and grandparents? Not so much.
It’s been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And when I look back over my formative years and even more recently, the preachers and teachers who resonate with me aren’t always the most eloquent or intellectual. But there is a distinct difference: They communicate with a unique combination of clarity, compassion, and conviction.
Peter possesses this God-given gift. And it’s abundantly clear that not only does Peter know Scripture, he also knows God, and knows His heart for His people. The gospel door swings wide open, and Peter’s clarity, compassion, and conviction leap off the page in Acts 3:11-26.
Evangelism is where urgency meets opportunity. So when Peter collides with the crowd, he seizes the moment. Under the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he tries to help his listeners connect the dots. We could summarize his message like this:
“Jesus is the one the prophets were pointing to!”
“Jesus is the one you killed!”
“Jesus is the one God raised from the dead!”
“Jesus is the one who heals!”
“Jesus is the one who saves!”
“Put your faith in Jesus!”
Here’s what I’ve learned from Peter and other preachers over the years: There’s a difference between getting into God’s Word and getting God’s Word into us. Psalm 1:1-2 says, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night”(NIV).
Resilient strength is rooted in Scripture. And one of the ways resilience reveals itself looks like this: When we inevitably bump up against culture, what’s the first thing that’s going to spill out? Is it God’s truth or “your truth”? Jesus said it Himself: He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). How’s that for being politically correct?
APPLICATION
One of the ways we can get God’s Word into us is by meditating on Scripture (Psalm 119:15). Commit to memorizing Psalm 1:1-2 this week.
PRAYER
God, thank You for the gift of Your Word. Forgive me for the times I’ve taken Scripture for granted. When I’m tempted to pick up anything and everything other than my Bible, give me the desire and the discipline to see Your Word as a delight, not a duty. In Jesus’ name… Amen.