In the text, Peter reminds the Jews listening to him that they rejected Christ. They rejected Him because He didn’t fit their expectations. That’s not the case today. Today, people reject Christ because we don’t fit their expectations. Remember last week I told y’all that Christ has no feet, hands, or voice but ours. If people don’t see our feet walking toward them, if people don’t see our hands reaching out to them, if people don’t hear our voice speaking love, they will reject us.
Again y’all, we can’t ignore sin. Peter doesn’t ignore sin; he tells his listeners to repent. I’m not saying that we ignore sin, but we have to remember that when someone sins, that sin is against God not us. Yes, there are times that we are hurt when someone sins. If someone lies about us, steals from us, abuses us, it hurts us. But the sin is against God and if we sin when confronting someone about their sin, our sin is just as much against God.
Sunday, July 3, 2022
Acts 3:11–12 (NIV) 11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
Heavenly Lord, we praise you for who you are. You are holy and call us to holiness. We, as your church, have failed you in so many ways Lord and for that we beg your forgiveness. While we profess to believe in your ability to perform miracles, we would be as astonished as the people in Jerusalem if we were to see a miracle. Often Lord, we go through our days counting on our power dismissing you as the source of all good things. Help us to see the evidence of your power all around us. May that evidence convict us of your ability to do all things. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Monday, July 4, 2022
Acts 3:13–15 (NIV)
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.
Lord, you are faithful to all of your promises and loving to all of your creations and for this we praise you. We realize that every time we are not in your will, that we don’t act as your church, we are no different than those in Jerusalem that helped crucify Jesus. But you continue to give us chances and turn to you and we thank you. Help us consider your will for us before we speak or do. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
Tuesday, July 5, 2022
Acts 3:16–17 (NIV)
16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see. 17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer.
We praise you Lord as your saints, as your church. We aren’t who we need to be God and for that, we are sorry. Thank you for your patience as we strive to be the people and church that you call us to be. So often, we act in ignorance, we pray that for your Spirit guide us in all things. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
Acts 3:19–21 (NIV)
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
God of Mercy, you lift all who fall when they call on you and for that, we praise and worship you. We repent of the times when we don’t share your Kingdom with others. We eagerly await the time when Jesus returns, and God restores everything and thank you for the future completion of your plan. Dearest Lord, put a burning in our hearts to reach those that don’t know you that we can’t ignore. In the name of Ho Hagios, The Holy One, Amen.
Thursday, July 7, 2022
Acts 3:22–24 (NIV)
22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’ 24 “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days.
Lord, you sent your Son to make the way for us to come to you, we praise you for the love you have for us. We forget sometimes that you love us all, even those we think are not worthy of you. We thank you for our church and the family that you have made in it. Help us God to throw open its doors to all and love others as you love us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Friday, July 8, 2022
Acts 3:25–26 (NIV)
25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”
Lord who hears our cries, we glorify you! You have blessed us in so many ways and we know that you seek to bless all who call on Jesus’ name. Help us remember that we wouldn’t know you had someone not introduced us to you. Place on our hearts the need that you have for us to be that person for someone else. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
Saturday, July 9, 2022
Greatest Lord, You have brought us to the end of another week, thank you. Thank you for the opportunities you gave us this week to show Jesus to others and forgive us for the times we did not. As we look to our time of worshiping with our church family tomorrow, we ask you to prepare our hearts to receive the message you send through our pastor. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
