Acts 2:37-47
Every now and then, I love pulling up videos of the old Billy Graham Crusades. Although old, they are timeless. The passion with which he speaks is mesmerizing. He was a gifted speaker with the matchless message of the Gospel. It wasn’t until after I got saved that I began to appreciate his crusades and the impact they truly had…and still have to this day. But as great as the messenger is, the message is what is truly important. In today’s focal passage, the day of Pentecost had come. And Peter began to preach. I certainly get the impression that Peter spoke with the same passion, conviction, and resoluteness as Billy Graham would during his revivals. As he preached, the audience responded. Verse 37 says that “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’’ Then came the call to action. Peter replied with “Repent and be baptized.” There is no other “gospel” that can truly drive someone to repentance than THE Gospel. It is indeed good news. But the results of that power doesn’t end with salvation; that is the beginning. I am by no means extoling that works lead to salvation. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ. But when the power of the Gospel really hits, it is life-changing. In verse 42-47, we read of the actions that came from Peter’s preaching. There was devotion to the teaching of the apostles, breaking of bread, and prayer. People gave as needed. Their hearts were glad and sincere. Every testimony is powerful, but sometimes the most impactful are those whose lives have become a complete 180-degree turn from their “used to be” as a result of hearing and responding. It is the story of the ages: lives made better and eternity secured because of the power of the Gospel. God gave us His word. John 1:1 says it all. That precedent exists in no other religion or faith. The power of the Gospel is its uniqueness. Salvation exists in its words, and it drives us to action. Some to it and some from it. Let the power of the Gospel transform your life.
Every now and then, I love pulling up videos of the old Billy Graham Crusades. Although old, they are timeless. The passion with which he speaks is mesmerizing. He was a gifted speaker with the matchless message of the Gospel. It wasn’t until after I got saved that I began to appreciate his crusades and the impact they truly had…and still have to this day. But as great as the messenger is, the message is what is truly important. In today’s focal passage, the day of Pentecost had come. And Peter began to preach. I certainly get the impression that Peter spoke with the same passion, conviction, and resoluteness as Billy Graham would during his revivals. As he preached, the audience responded. Verse 37 says that “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’’ Then came the call to action. Peter replied with “Repent and be baptized.” There is no other “gospel” that can truly drive someone to repentance than THE Gospel. It is indeed good news. But the results of that power doesn’t end with salvation; that is the beginning. I am by no means extoling that works lead to salvation. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ. But when the power of the Gospel really hits, it is life-changing. In verse 42-47, we read of the actions that came from Peter’s preaching. There was devotion to the teaching of the apostles, breaking of bread, and prayer. People gave as needed. Their hearts were glad and sincere. Every testimony is powerful, but sometimes the most impactful are those whose lives have become a complete 180-degree turn from their “used to be” as a result of hearing and responding. It is the story of the ages: lives made better and eternity secured because of the power of the Gospel. God gave us His word. John 1:1 says it all. That precedent exists in no other religion or faith. The power of the Gospel is its uniqueness. Salvation exists in its words, and it drives us to action. Some to it and some from it. Let the power of the Gospel transform your life.
Posted in Devotional