Day 2: Not of this world
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47).
Father, the prophet Jeremiah prayed, ‘Ah, Lord God! It is You who have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for You' (Jeremiah 32:17 - ESV). The Lord Jesus reminded the disciples of this, “What is impossible with man is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). And in their lives, You brought about staggering change that would earlier have seemed impossible.
You sent Your promised Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2), and transformed them from selfish, weak, fearful individuals—who sought their own promotion, denied the Lord Jesus, and hid from the authorities—to a community of courageous believers, fearlessly declaring the gospel, caring for and supporting each other, and sharing everything in common.
Having seen the resurrected Lord, and having been filled with the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, they finally understood the meaning of Jesus' words, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). And with new vision and clarity, they determined to invest all they were, all they had—life, possessions, ministry—in the kingdom of God.
O Lord, we pray that You would so transform our lives. You see our struggles with selfishness, weakness, fear, self-interest, faithlessness, faint-heartedness. Fill us with Your Spirit of wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17).
Help us to know the hope to which You have called us, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in Your holy people, and Your incomparably great power for us who believe… the same as the mighty strength You exerted when You raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 1:18-20).
Give us new vision and clarity, so that we too, may have the strength, the courage, the resolve to invest all we are, all we have in the kingdom of God. Let us see the glory of our resurrected Lord. Let Your power fall on us.
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