April 15, 2015: Acts 3:12-19

We encourage you to read this devotion three times a day.  Start in the morning and reflect upon the morning reflection question. Then in the afternoon, read it again and reflect using the noon question for reflection.  For the evening, take time to ponder how this has resonated with you in the day and reflecting using the evening question.  We offer a prayer with each devotion for you to pray or we invite you to pray what is in your heart.

Acts 3:12-19

¹² Seeing this, Peter addressed the people: “You Israelites, why are you amazed at this? Why are you staring at us as if we made him walk by our own power or piety? ¹³ The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of our ancestors—has glorified his servant Jesus. This is the one you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence, even though he had already decided to release him. ¹⁴ You rejected the holy and righteous one, and asked that a murderer be released to you instead. ¹⁵ You killed the author of life, the very one whom God raised from the dead. We are witnesses of this. ¹⁶ His name itself has made this man strong. That is, because of faith in Jesus’ name, God has strengthened this man whom you see and know. The faith that comes through Jesus gave him complete health right before your eyes.¹⁷ “Brothers and sisters, I know you acted in ignorance. So did your rulers. ¹⁸ But this is how God fulfilled what he foretold through all the prophets: that his Christ would suffer. ¹⁹ Change your hearts and lives! Turn back to God so that your sins may be wiped away.

Reflection:

When I was a freshman in high school I had been invited to this church youth group. I would get dropped off at a friends house where several people gathered and then the church would send a van or bus to pick up everyone.  I only did this a few times.  The youth group wasn't for me.  There was a large group and it was filled with flash.  They called the youth group 180.  They talked a lot about repentance.  They wanted the students to know it wasn't enough to say your heart was changed and proclaim a 360 because then you would have made a full circle and be where you started, but a 180 meant that you had changed and turned away from the former life. This idea stuck out to me.  We must truly turn to God and give up our old ways. It's not easy and we might slip up here and there, but with God's help it is possible. 

Reflection Questions:

Morning: How are you trying to be closer with God?

Noon: When have you felt ignorant in your faith?

Evening: What steps might you take to do 180?