Scripture: “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” – Acts 5:31
Observation: In the first chapters of Acts, Peter and John are beginning their ministry in Jerusalem. After being ordered to cease their preaching, they continued more boldly and ended up in prison. When God’s angel miraculously freed them, they immediately resumed preaching in the temple. Peter’s determination to proclaim Jesus to the Jewish leaders in attendance regardless of the repercussions is the message in today’s verse.
Application: Peter resolved to preach Jesus regardless of the consequences. He had a godly single-mindedness to do the will of God, trusting in the Lord to take care of him in the process. Acts 4:13 states, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” Both Peter and John were common fishermen, but Jesus changed their lives forever! The apostles had repeatedly been commanded to stop, but they refused, and this led to beatings and imprisonments on various occasions. They had resolved to follow Christ, and nothing was going to stop them.
New Year’s resolutions are promises we often make to ourselves, and they rarely make it into the next month. Breaking a resolution is done without much thought at all. Common excuses demonstrate the low level of commitment. “It’s too hard to stick to a diet.” “It’s too inconvenient to make it to the gym faithfully.” “It’s too hard to find time to do…” whatever we’ve resolved to do. Not so with Peter and John.
These two apostles made resolutions to do God’s work, and they kept them. The cost to follow their resolutions cost them dearly, but their commitment was 100% and then some. There was no turning back for any of the apostles. When they made their resolutions to accept Jesus’ charge in Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”, they were all in!
When we make our resolutions this January 1st, what can we resolve to do for God this year? Here are a few suggestions:
- Resolve to read the Bible regularly
- Resolve to pray daily
- Resolve to go to church and fellowship with other believers
- Resolve to share Jesus with others
- Resolve to make one change in your life that will help you grow in your faith and draw nearer to Jesus
Like Peter, our resolutions require sacrifice, but unlike him, our sacrifices do not involve physical beatings, jail time or execution. Our sacrifice simply requires spending quality time with God. Let us all resolve to be all in for Jesus in 2026 and make it our best year ever!
Prayer: Dearest Father in heaven, please draw me closer to You in 2026. Help me make time for You each day by sharing my heart with You through prayer and listening to You speak to me through Your Word. Please increase my faith and trust in You as I do these things. Forgive me when I put myself above You. May I grow to love You more and more. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, and it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith, and be closer drawn to Thee.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to Thy precious, bleeding side.
Oh, the pure delight of a single hour that before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend!
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to Thy precious, bleeding side.
(from “Draw Me Nearer” by Fanny Crosby)
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“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” – Acts 5:42
These devotions have been such a blessing and challenge, Jayne. Thank you! Have a blessed New Year!