Friday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 2:22-24
22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.
22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.
Commentary:
2:23 Peter combines a clear affirmation of God’s sovereignty over world events and human responsibility for evil deeds. Although Jesus was delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, showing that God had both foreknown and foreordained that Jesus would be crucified, that still did not absolve of responsibility those who contributed to his death, for Peter goes on to say, “you crucified and killed” him. Though one may not understand fully how God’s sovereign ordination of events can be compatible with human responsibility for evil, both are clearly affirmed here and in many other passages of Scripture (cf. notes on 3:13–16; 3:17; 4:27; 4:28). by the hands of lawless men. Peter also places responsibility on the Gentile officials and soldiers who actually crucified Jesus.
Questions:
- The final takeaway was that God BEATS Satan with his own STICK. In the book of Acts, that looks like Saul! He was Satan's instrument to bring persecution to the church that God would end up turning into a lethal weapon for the Gospel. At the cross, God used Satan's literal stick, a wooden cross, to defeat him once and for all. God allowed the believers and apostles to experience pain for their own good and for God's greater purpose. Is there any pain in your own life that God might be allowing? How might it be for your own eventual good? How might God use it for his glory and purposes?
- The fact is, for followers of Jesus, we are on the winning team. Our enemy may seem like he's running rampant, but he has already been defeated. This should fill us with hope, joy and expectation for what God has next for us! If you are feeling like you are getting whipped by the enemy, how can you remind yourself that Satan has already been defeated? How should this affect our attitudes and actions in our day-to-day?
Prayer Topics:
- That you would remember that God works all things for your good and his glory.
- That Satan has been defeated.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
4. Can a person be good enough to go to heaven? No. Because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He is God, I believe a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
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