The gospel ending with... unjust arrest and condemnation...
scourging...
mocking...
crucifixion...
resurrection...
Jesus's greatest work... which to all the world... looked like a complete failure...
But... in reality...
His greatest victory...
an act of sacrificial love...
a grace... beyond our understanding...
Matthew ends with His great commission for all disciples...
Go then and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them into the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Teaching them to observe everything
that I have commanded you...
Matthew 28:19-20 Amp
Acts begins with Luke recounting the evidence of Jesus's resurrection... those He appeared to... and His command to wait... for the Holy Spirit...
And while being in their company and eating at the table with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father promised, Of which [He said] you have heard Me speak. For John baptized with water, but not many days from now you shall be baptized with (placed in, introduced into) the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:4-5 Amp
And the Spirit... He came... with power... and gifts...
And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place, When suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them. And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression...
Acts 2:1-4 Amp
Each disciple was given a spiritual gift... relevant for that particular moment... in building His Kingdom... and for His glory...
Therefore those who accepted and welcomed his message were baptized, and there were added that day about 3,000 souls.
Acts 2:41 Amp
This picture in Acts... takes me back to His parable in Matthew...
A parable of talents given by the master to be used... invested for him... while he was away...
The Holy Spirit gifts each Believer... with what we need... to build His Kingdom... where we are... and to share the good news...
And I wonder... What gifts have I received...? what talents...?
Am I investing them...? or burying them...?
The One who gave so much for me... the good news of His love... grace... freedom... should move me to action...
All who believe... should be moving from gospel... to acts...
Go then and make disciples...
Consider what you've been given...
What has the Spirit given you... to use on His behalf...?
Are you investing...? or burying...?
Follow along on The Journey... come and see... the moving of the gospel... into Acts...
This week's readings...
Monday Acts 4:23 - 5:42
Tuesday Acts 6
Wednesday Acts 7
Thursday Acts 8
Friday Acts 9
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