Sept. 11 | Acts 5:12-20 |

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DAILY READING

Acts 5:12-20

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REFLECTION

More and More

by Beth Voltmann

There is something so captivating about the early days of the Church. Following the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus and the infilling of the Holy Spirit, these believers began to gather together in a way that was contagious to many watching.

We are given our first glimpse of this dynamic gathering of early Christians in Acts 2:42-47. Not only were they devoted to teaching, fellowship, sharing and prayer but...

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.” (Acts 2:46)

They were so compelled to share the gospel that they met daily in a colonnade attached to the temple. Today’s passage gives more details about the impact these believers had on those around.

“The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people

and all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.

 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord

and were added to their number.” (Acts 5:12-14)

Even though they were highly regarded by the people, they still faced much opposition from Jewish religious leaders and others.

Although signs and wonders were performed and many sick were healed, those in power responded in jealousy and jailed some of the apostles.

How did they maintain their spiritual fervor? 

They lived knowing that Jesus must become greater and they must become less (John 3:30).

He had promised to be with them always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:20).

Thus, when God’s angel appeared to the apostles and brought them out of the jail cell, they faithfully obeyed the instructions given:

“Go, stand in the temple courts...and tell the people all about this new life.” (Acts 5:20)

Through the obedience and unwavering faith of the early believers, the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread like a holy fire throughout Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

Hearts were stirred, courage was aroused, faith was planted, healing was poured out, and...

more and more saw, heard, believed and followed.

PRAYER

Lord, stir the hearts of believers today. May we meet together often to worship and to boldly share your promise of new life in Christ with those around us. May your Church shine brightly in this present darkness. Please help us to share the gospel so courageously that more and more will see, hear, believe and follow. Amen.  

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September 10 | Ephesians 4:25-32

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DAILY READING

Ephesians 4:25-32

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REFLECTION

Let Us Walk This Way

by Dan Kidd

From the very beginning, the Church has been a community movement, with a distinct relationship with one another. Distinct in their equality, in their generosity and mutual sharing, and in their self-sacrificial love for one another. We see the nature of this Christ-led, cross-shaped community described in this portion of Paul's letter to the Ephesian church. Paul is describing for them the type of community they were created and Spirit-empowered to be. And as we continue reflecting on how Jesus is at work in us, within and among UALC, let it be that by God's grace we might be so caught up in the Kingdom work of the Lord that others would marvel at how we love one another--like Paul imagines here.

What I deeply appreciate about this passage is how thoughtfully Paul speaks to the temptations and rifts that are unavoidable in a community living their lives alongside one another. When we live with the vulnerability of loving one another, we will run into instances where we're tempted to not be honest. Especially when we're called to honesty and kindness. In times of desperation or entitlement we may give into the temptations of taking what isn't ours to have. In our moments of hurt or real dissatisfaction, we can be prone to speaking cruelly or vulgarly; to self-soothe with gossip. When we, who live life together, inevitably hurt one another, the enemy would have us smolder in resentment or ignite in wrath. How profoundly fortunate we are that the Lord has saved us into something much better than all of that.

In our sermon passage this week, we heard the Lord's words over Joshua. "Be strong and very courageous," and carefully obedient to God's direction. Let it be that this would the word over us as well. That we, who have been delivered and richly blessed by the Lord, would be strong in the love and giftedness of our God. That he would empty us our bitterness or our rage. That he would lead us away from our malice, slander, or violence. Instead, let it be that Christ would clothe us in his righteousness--in kindness and compassion for one another. That we would abandon laziness so that we might work in order that we can generously give away to others. Let us, this year, and every year after, be people who are so shaped by Christ crucified that we would be remarkable for our forgiveness of one another. Just as he, who was executed on the cross forgave his executioners, his enemies, even as he hung there, we would be filled with that very same Spirit.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we pray that you would continue the work. You've been so faithful to do in us that we would be your Kingdom family; the living evidence of your love for the world. We pray that we would be known for how we love one another distinctly. As we fall short of this vision, convict us, forgive us, and set us aright again in your mercy. Continue, Lord, this year, to set us free into the community you've intended us to be. Amen

September 9 | Ephesians 4:1-6

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DAILY READING

Ephesians 4:1-6

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REFLECTION

Is This Really Possible?

by Pr. Dave Mann

In the first three chapters of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul focuses on what God has done for us in Christ – how the free gift of salvation is made available to all who believe.  Look at just a few of the many great verses that declare what God has done for us – Eph 1:4; 2:4-5; 2:8-9; 3:20-21.

Then, starting with the fourth chapter, Paul reminds us how the power of God at work within us energizes us to live a new life.  We are called and empowered by God to live a life worthy of his calling.  With the Holy Spirit working in us, we can be humble, gentle, and patient.  Wow!  And not just humble, gentle, and patient, but completely humble, gentle, and patient.  Now that is a high calling!

My first response is, “Lord, that’s impossible.  I can’t do that!  You’ve got the wrong guy.”  To which the Holy Spirit whispers, “Go back and read chapters 1-3 again.  You are not on your own.  God has already taken the initiative.  God will not abandon you now.  He has invested too much in you.  He has chosen you from before the foundations of the world.  He has made you alive.  Do you think that God can’t do it?!”  To which we respond, “Well, if you put it that way, I guess I’ll just look to God when my humbleness, gentleness, and patience seem to be lacking.”

To live a life worthy of his calling is not possible in my own strength, relying on my own natural resources.  But it certainly is possible for the power of God to do it. He can raise the dead and give eternal life freely and fully.  God has a plan for the church.  He weaves together all these flawed baptized believers and gives them salvation by grace.  In fact, the plan is that this group of ragtag, proud, rude, and always-in-a-hurry believers will live together forever in heaven.  The transformation of these people is already underway.  Certainly, the process is not complete, but it has begun.  As Paul wrote in one of his other letters, “He who began a good work in you, will bring it to perfection on the Day of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:6).  There is one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.  And that God is over all of us, working through all of us, and living in all of us.

PRAYER

Lord God, who saves, forgive me for doubting that you can change the unworthy to be worthy, to change the proud to be humble, to change the rude to be gentle, to change the impatient to be patient.  I certainly need your salvation.  I believe you can do it.  I look forward to the day your work in me will be complete, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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