Thursday 9th February - Acts 5
Today’s chapter is Acts 5
Tom writes:
Like Stan Lee in a Marvel movie, the exalted nature of Jesus pops up somewhere in every instalment of the early church. It really is worth dwelling on. Here we see the apostles declaring that “God exalted (Jesus) to his right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel” (v31). The reason God raised Jesus and gave him Spirit-distributing power was to give repentance and forgiveness to a nation. And then to nations. Jesus is appointed Prince with a purpose - to draw more and more people out of sinful living and to establish them as holy; dwelling in worshipful friendship with their God. This pastoral, missionary zeal is the driving motive behind the signs being done by Peter’s shadow; Jesus used someone he utterly trusted to demonstrate crazy levels of his power so that tongues would wag and then tongues would repent and then tongues would sing. It wasn’t that Jesus was desperate to use a shadow to heal people; as funky as that was.
It was that Jesus knew the much-forgiven apostle would use the display of power to issue an invitation to receive forgiveness. It was the forgiveness and the friendship that Jesus wanted. It was the same missionary agenda that activated the annihilation of Annanias. As a well known leader in the Jesus movement Annanias’ deception would spread a disease of disrepute if it wasn’t duly dealt with. It wasn’t Jesus’ spite that killed Annanias. It was a decisive act by the Missionary Prince to undercut an act that would abort the advance of his mission. So if you want more power; get with the programme. If you want less frustration of your efforts; turn them towards releasing forgiveness and friendship from the exalted Saviour. Exalt Jesus in your mind. And put yourself in more positions where he can release repentance to others through you. God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Jesus (v32). Choose just to do what He says. Choose to follow his call to release repentance to people in your life. Even to those walking just behind you on whom your shadow happens to fall.
Question for reflection
What miracles have you seen Jesus do?
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