But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
TO PONDER
No one can live the Christian life on their own abilities or strength of will. The only person who can live the Christian life is Jesus Christ. So, you would have to give up trying by yourself. You have to ask the Holy Spirit to live through you. As you do that, the power of the Spirit would fill you. Your mouth will overflow with praise. There is a power to witness that comes only from the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, lead us to surrender our lives to you, and please empower us to be your witnesses.
Today's devotion written by Francis Leung, LifeWay Epping
In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
TO PONDER
The Spirit of God gave Jesus’ apostles the ability to speak in many languages on that day of Pentecost, and the same Spirit enables us to speak and to act in wonderful ways today. Through the power of the Spirit, God’s kingdom is advancing, and he has called and equipped each of us to be his witnesses in whatever circumstances we may find ourselves.
Today we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. But our celebration of Pentecost is not so much meant to be talked about as it is to be lived—in word and deed. By the power of the Spirit working through us, our words and fruit-filled actions are the tools God uses to build his kingdom.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of the Spirit poured out on Jesus’ followers on that Pentecost day so long ago. Help us to live by the power of the Spirit today and every day.
Today's devotion written by Pastor Francis Leung, LifeWay Epping
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
TO PONDER
All of us are searching for meaning and fulfillment. We crave to know who we are, find the activities that give us meaning and the people who make our hearts happy. It’s not a bad goal; however, it’s important that we remember that our true fulfilment, our true eternity, can only come from Jesus and knowing who He is. We were made to be in relationship with God. When sin entered the world that relationship was broken, it became our human condition. Our souls know that our current predicament is not how we were made to be, and so we crave the restoration of our relationship with God. When we look to fill our need with things of the world though, we are left lacking. Our eternity, our completion is found in knowing Jesus, who He is and all He has done for us.
PRAYER: Jesus, thank you that you came to earth and died for me, to restore my relationship with God. Help me to understand more each day of who you are and what your sacrifice means for me. Help me to share your amazing grace with those around me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
TO PONDER
Visit the Grand Canyon, Mount Everest or Uluru and you will see it. Be present at the birth of a child and you will see it. Simply stand outside and feel the sun on your face, or watch the lightning and hear the thunder of a storm and you will see it. God’s amazing creation is crying out His glory. In the biggest and most majestic, to the smallest and seemingly insignificant, creation reveals to us the amazing eternal power and divine nature of our creative, loving, maker God. All creation speaks it everyday, for all eternity, however we are often too busy or distracted to see it. Why not take the time to stop, be amongst nature and experience and understand in a new way how truly awesome our God is!
PRAYER: Father God, I thank you that you are creative, that you have created all things, through all eternity. Help me to be still and to recognise the amazing world you have made for me. May I sing your glory as it does, for you are an awesome, divine and eternal God. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.
TO PONDER
Eternity is a hard concept to understand, in fact it is probably impossible to truly understand it. We have created pictures or illustrations to help us understand or try to explain what it is, but it is so outside our human understanding and our concept of time that it is really too great for us to fathom. Time that always was, always is and always will be. We could drive ourselves crazy trying to understand how it can be possible. However, if we stop trying to grapple with the concept of eternity and instead focus on who is ruler over eternity then our focus is a little better placed. Our God is the God of eternity. He always was, always is and always will be. He is in control of all things, because He made all things. When we fix our eyes on the who, rather than the how, we don’t need to understand it all, we simply know and trust.
PRAYER: Jesus, you are Lord of all time. Your throne was established long ago, and you rule over all creation for ever. Help me to fix my eyes on who you are and to trust that you hold my eternity in your loving hands also. In your Holy and glorious name I pray, Amen.
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yeta] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
TO PONDER
Do you ever feel there must be something more? The things that you worked so hard for, that you thought would give you fulfillment leave you feeling empty. If you identify with any of these you are not alone. We are all longing for fulfillment, for a hole to be filled in our lives, but we continually choose the wrong things. As the writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us, eternity has been set within our hearts. On some level we all know that this is not our eternal home, we are not supposed to be totally fulfilled and comfortable here, we are made to long for eternity, our forever home with our Heavenly Father. So, rather than reaching for earthly things to fulfill us, we should fix our hearts and minds on heavenly things, and wait with anticipation and excitement for our eternal reward, that will come in God’s beautiful timing.
PRAYER: Jesus, help me to fix my heart and mind on heavenly things, the gifts you have given me and the fulfilment I receive each day in knowing I am your child. Keep my eyes focused on the eternal glory I will enjoy one day with you, Amen.
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
TO PONDER
Picture a dog. It has been given a toy or a bone, something that is has wanted desperately. Now, having received its prize, what does the dog do with it? It guards it, perhaps it puts it somewhere, hidden from anyone who might try and steal it. Anyone who dares to try and take the toy or bone back is sure to be growled at, at best. The bone or toy is precious to the dog, and it will do whatever it needs to do to keep it safe. If a dog goes to so much trouble for its toy or bone, how much more does the Father do to protect us? The truth is more than we will ever know or imagine. Jesus words are truth for us, our eternal life is a gift, we will never perish and God will never let anyone snatch us from His hand.
PRAYER: Jesus, thank you for the price you paid for me, so I can enjoy the gift of eternal life with my heavenly Father. Make me aware in a new way how much you love me, and all that you do to protect me and keep me safe within your care. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
TO PONDER
‘Everything worth doing will be difficult to do’. Have you ever heard a quote similar to this? As a teacher, I often need to remind my students that their hard work will be worth it in the end. It’s hard to see the end though, when you are in the midst of the hard work! Also, being reminded of this can be little comfort to those who are enduring the pain. Peter reminds us in this verse though, that our suffering is only for a little while, and the wonderful reward at the end is strength and steadfastness. Our suffering, in whatever form that takes, will be worth it, and only for a fleeting moment, compared to the eternal glory of being with Christ and being restored fully by Him. So, endure and look forward with anticipation to your eternal reward.
PRAYER: Jesus, I thank you that you understand my suffering, because you suffered also. Help me to endure through my suffering, reminding me that it is only for a short while, until you restore me fully again. In your glorious name I pray, Amen.
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
TO PONDER
Have you ever taken a personality or gifts quiz? If you haven’t, you answer a series of questions about your preferences and natural tendencies and these answers place you in a particular category. The main take away from these quizzes however is that we are all different, and no category is better than another. We are all unique and wonderful, and it takes everyone to make the world work. Peter reminds us in verse 11 that the key to living an authentic life is to do what God is calling us to, and to do it all for His glory. This is not for ourselves, but so that God may be seen by others, living through us, and that this will result in God being praised. So, whatever it is you are being called to this week, do it in His strength and for his glory.
PRAYER: Lord, thank you that you have made me unique and wonderful. Help me to better understand the gifts you have given me and the ways you are calling me to use them. I want you name to be praised through the work I do each day. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle