He welcomed all who visited him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. 
—Acts 28:30–31

Although he had a guard present with him at all times, he was still able to enjoy a large amount of freedom. For two years, Paul was able to preach the gospel. Even in limited freedom, he remained committed to helping others know and understand the kingdom of God.

This is for us an example of what it means to serve God faithfully in whatever circumstance we find ourselves. The book of Acts has shown us that our status as followers of Christ doesn’t exclude us from opposition. Instead, as we share the message of hope in a broken world, we should expect resistance. The gospel had transformed Paul, along with others mentioned in previous chapters, so much so that they began to passionately proclaim the kingdom of God.

Perhaps Acts doesn’t end the way we would expect it to; many consider the ending abrupt. It is widely known that Paul died in Rome; however, Luke mentions nothing about the apostle’s death. Acts is more than a historical account that biographs the lives of the apostles or any other member from the early Church period. As prominent as Paul and Peter are throughout the book, the gospel is the main character and its journey from Jerusalem to Rome drives the plot.

Jesus told His disciples that they would carry His message from Jerusalem to the world. Ancient Rome was not considered the world’s edge during the first century. However, it was one of the most important, populated cities. It was also a major gateway city through which visitors traveled. As the gospel spread throughout Rome, it also had the opportunity to extend beyond Rome to other parts of the world.

The story of the spread of the gospel and the Church’s growth didn’t end in this last chapter. Instead of giving us a conclusion, Luke set us up for a continuation of the story—one that has continued up to our present day. As members of God’s community of believers, we have been transformed by Jesus’s message of good news. Like Paul, we actively participate in “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 28:31).

We take the truth of the gospel everywhere we go, eager to see the Holy Spirit at work in us and around us.

The same day Stephen was martyred, widespread persecution occurred, with Saul actively pursuing and persecuting believers, throwing them in jail (Acts 8:1–3). The persecution intensified, but the resolve of Jesus’s followers to share His message only grew.

Philip’s encounter with the eunuch was more than being in the right place at the right time. It was a divine orchestration from God, who was ready to meet the eunuch’s desire to know more about Him. Philip met a perplexed man, who did not understand who the subject of the passage from Isaiah was talking about. But Philip did.

Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning with that Scripture.
—Acts 8:35

Here we see God’s saving power in action. As Philip directed the eunuch to Jesus through the scriptures, the eunuch accepted everything that he heard. It was a monumental moment in the man’s life, the eagerness evident in his immediate request to be baptized. As regal and important as his position was in Queen Candace’s court, he took on a more prestigious status as a member of God’s family.

This roadside conversion points back to God’s promise in Isaiah 56:3–5, where God specifically promised that His salvation would extend to foreigners and eunuchs, who generally did not have families of their own. Better than a biological family, the eunuch now had a place among God’s people and family. What joy he experienced as he returned to Ethiopia forever changed.

The joy-inducing, life-giving gospel at work in the eunuch’s conversion is the same gospel that has transformed our lives. The eunuch’s story highlights the beauty of God’s grace. Because of sin, we were far from God, but because of Jesus’s sacrifice, we now belong to Him. The gospel welcomes all, without discrimination; the only requirement is that we accept His gift of salvation (Romans 10:13). In God’s household, strangers are bonded together as family and we all experience God’s blessings.

The eunuch’s conversion during the Church’s persecution emphasizes that nothing will stop God’s plan for us to be His people. Our lives are forever marked with a deep joy that outlasts any situation we face, knowing that we are loved and accepted by Him.

It was an early morning of breakfast and conversation, seaside. Three times Jesus questioned Peter’s love for Him, echoing Peter’s trilogy of denials in the previous chapter. Jesus’s responses involved calling Peter to care for His sheep, for His Church. It’s a redemptive example for us, as we see that Peter had been forgiven and included in Jesus’s plans for His kingdom.

Jesus also revealed a hard truth: Peter’s future martyrdom. We shouldn’t see this as a punishment for earlier mistakes, since Jesus didn’t give any indication of this. Neither did He elaborate on the details or even the time frame regarding the end of Peter’s life. Instead, He issued both an invitation and a command.

“Follow me.”
—John 21:19

Jesus places how Peter will die in the context of how he should live. “Follow me.” This two-word sentence is the driving theme of Jesus’s directives to Peter. When we reflect on the conversation in whole, we are reminded of what it means to say yes to Him. The call to follow Jesus is a commitment to discipleship, a commitment to live out the gospel in a world that is opposed to the message of hope.

“Follow me.” Jesus’s instruction to Peter isn’t just a one-time action. In the original Greek reading, the phrase carries the meaning of repeated action. Each day that we live is an opportunity to embrace the invitation to follow Jesus, to love Him deeply, and to serve Him wholeheartedly.

Perhaps when reading John 21, the revelation of Peter’s death alarms us, maybe even disturbs us. Jesus refuses to shield us from the truth. As His disciples, we will encounter hard seasons and challenging times, and often. But whatever interval of life we go through, we submit to His will. Jesus knows from experience what opposition, pain, and grief feels like. And “as our merciful and faithful high priest” (Hebrews 2:17), He is with us, infusing us with the strength to endure all that we face.

Other scriptures, including Peter’s writings, reveal to us that Peter remained faithful to Jesus’s call to “shepherd [His] sheep” (John 21:16). Echoing Jesus’s words, Peter encouraged other leaders to “shepherd God’s flock” (1Peter 5:2), overseeing God’s people with care and compassion.

We may not all hold a formal leadership title. But as members of God’s flock, He has commissioned each of us to follow Him, to carry out whatever He has entrusted to us. And Peter promises that when our chief Shepherd returns for us, He will reward our faithfulness (v.4).

The Gospel narrative invites us to pause, to sit with Jesus in His suffering. It gives us an opportunity to reflect on what that suffering means for us and for the world.

The apostle’s account of Jesus’s crucifixion includes the events leading up to it. A beaten Jesus stood before Pilate, the religious leaders, and the crowd. Although he had previously ordered Jesus’s lashing, the Roman governor found no reason to proceed with convicting Jesus.

“I find no grounds for charging him.”
—John 19:6

Pilate made this statement twice, in verse 4 and again in verse 6, not realizing the spiritual truth in his words. Jesus’s innocence wasn’t tied to living as the model Jewish citizen or even to Pilate’s not-guilty verdict. No. Here was the sinless Son of God, ready to die for the sins of the ones who had brought Him to trial…ready to die for the sins of the world. No matter how much authority Pilate thought himself to have, Jesus’s crucifixion could only happen by God’s authority and power (John 19:11). Not Pilate’s or the crowd’s or the religious leaders’. They were carrying out God’s will and didn’t even realize it. Jesus’s suffering and death, foreshadowed in the Old Testament, were part of the divine plan of salvation (Psalm 22). With every word and every action, Scripture was being fulfilled.

“I find no grounds for charging him.” Those become haunting words, knowing that Pilate proceeded with Jesus’s crucifixion in spite of His innocence. And if we keep reading, if we don’t look away, we get a clear depiction of the depth of sin. This is seen, not just in the torturous method of death inflicted upon Jesus but also in the reality that only God Himself could satisfy the penalty of death—our penalty.

It’s a solemn reading, seeing the Savior’s body abused over and over. Death by crucifixion was humiliating and agonizing. Slow. It’s an even weightier reading, knowing the pain-filled hours Jesus spent on the cross were for us, for our sin. But John 19 is not meant to leave us with an overwhelming emotion of guilt. The imagery of the crucifixion points to this: Jesus embraced the ultimate death so that we wouldn’t have to. It’s the imagery of redemption.

We can never repay Jesus for His sacrifice, and He doesn’t ask us to. Instead, He calls us to respond. Our response is one of gratitude and joy, as we reject the sin that He died for and embrace the life He freely offers us (1Peter 2:22–24).

Many times, when I read Paul’s letters, I’m tempted to dismiss the opening verses as mere greetings. But all of God’s Word is for us, and the content of Paul’s greeting to the Colossians prompts us to do more than just pray for our fellow believers. We ought to celebrate their faith and give thanks for them.

In chapter 1, Paul communicated to the Colossians that he and Timothy would “always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you” (Colossians 1:3). Even though Paul had not met the Colossian believers face to face, he prayed for them and thanked God for them. Why? Because of their faith and the love they expressed toward the saints because of the gospel (v.4).  

We are far removed from the first century, but Jesus’s good news of salvation has continued to spread throughout the world, as He said it would, and it has continued to produce fruit (Matthew 24:14, Colossians 1:6). Praying for other believers helps us to remember the far-reaching power of the gospel and the broader narrative of Scripture: the redemption of peoples across all times and in every generation.

While God’s household certainly includes our own circle of Christian community, it also extends far beyond it to believers on every continent. We all share in God’s grace, united by His Spirit. This is the heart of Paul’s message in Colossians, and it calls us to live transformed lives—lives that reflect the love of Jesus, the one who saved us and longs to offer “redemption, the gift of forgiveness” to all of humanity (Colossians 1:14; Isaiah 30:18). That is reason enough to rejoice and celebrate the reach of the gospel to our brothers and sisters from every corner of the earth.

The gospel fuels our love and passion toward the believers who are in our own lives (Colossians 1:4–5). When we pray for each other, which should be often, God brings our thoughts, motives, and actions into alignment with His own. With an attitude of thanksgiving, we should pray for the Lord’s will to be done in all things.

The good news of the gospel is also this: God has saved us from our sin and extended His redemption to people all across the globe. We rejoice over each other—not because of anything we have done but because of the gift the Father has so generously given through His Son, the Spirit given to comfort and guide us and fellowship with one another. And because of our well-placed hope in Him (v.5), we can look forward to the day when all of God’s people, from every nation and generation, will rejoice in Jesus Christ together. As the hymn says, “What a day of rejoicing that will be!”

Being immersed in the Bible at a young age created a fondness and enthusiasm for Scripture that has developed through the years into a love and deep affection for God’s Word. Somewhere along the way as I matured in my faith journey, I realized that committing Scripture to memory wasn’t about winning prizes or the satisfaction of accurately quoting a lengthy passage. It was more than just recalling a verse to apply to any given situation in my life. It was about getting to know God through His Word. It was about aligning my daily thoughts and actions with His instructions.

LORD, I remember your name in the night, and I obey your instruction. 
—Psalm 119:55 

Remembrance is an intentional and ongoing rhythm. In every season, in every circumstance, we’re called to remember God’s instruction. We remember His Word to continually remind ourselves of who God is and who we are in Him. When we don’t actively and intentionally remember God’s instruction, we risk the danger of forgetting.

In today’s reading, we discover that a whole community had forgotten God’s instruction. This was the God who had brought the nation of Israel through their biggest hurdles and established His law among them. If anyone knew what remembrance looked like, it would be the people of God. Yet here we are at another point in their history where they’ve actively forgotten Him. And that forgetfulness led to disobedience (2Kings 22:13).  

We, too, are prone to forget, to engage in actions that don’t align with God’s Word. But instead of turning us away, God continually calls for us to respond to Him with repentance and return to Him. To love and obey Him. To remember.

I’m glad today’s reading doesn’t just include God’s people’s failure of forgetting. I’m glad we get to discover that the king and the people committed themselves to wholeheartedly following the Lord. I’m glad we get to read about the rededication and renewal that comes with remembering God and His Word. 

But how do we keep His Word? How do we consistently remember Him when forgetting seems to come so easily? We look to God to help us. And He will! Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit “will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you” (John 14:26).

I always want to remember and obey God’s instruction so that, in my remembrance, I’m reminded of the neverending nearness of His presence (v.23).

But as I read through Ezra this time, I’ve found myself surprisingly moved with appreciation over the inclusion of the last parts. Without it, I don’t think the book is complete. Even if it raises more questions than it presents answers.

As the story of the people’s unfaithfulness continues into this last chapter, Ezra deeply mourns their sin (Ezra 10:1). Even after God’s gracious hand had brought them home, they still wandered outside the bounds of their covenant relationship with Him. This picture of infidelity feels familiar: the nation’s refusal to repent for their rebellion had led them into exile in the first place. However, something is different in today’s reading—the people’s response.

“We have been unfaithful to our God” (Ezra 10:2). Instead of hardening their hearts, the people joined Ezra in grieving over their sin. We have been unfaithful to our God. This response has convicted me, really stopped me in my tracks. It’s prompted me to think about where I’m failing to obey God’s Word. And oh, how unpretty it is—being confronted with my disobedience. How do we move forward after we’ve realized our sin and confessed our wrongdoing? We return.  

There is still hope for Israel in spite of this. 
—Ezra 10:2

We realign our ways with God’s Word, as the people did. The hope that lies before us is that we are His people. That means that we respond to His call to repentance with humility and deep sorrow. But we also rejoice that we are His people and recipients of His mercy (1Peter 2:10). 

On this last day of reading through Ezra, I am thankful for every page—from beginning to end. For me, the whole of Ezra has come to be a picture of our ongoing redemption story. 

We are His people, rescued and restored. Sometimes we get it wrong. Sometimes our tendency to wander from God can lead to potentially devastating consequences. But He continually calls us to return to Him, to reorient our hearts to follow His ways. When we do, He faithfully responds with forgiveness and mercy, again and again. 

One of these spaces—called the Contemplative Court—is a large room with a wide, round opening at the top. A waterfall pours from this opening all the way down into a pool bordered by long, high-back marble benches. Each wall in the Contemplative Court, coppery bronze and overlaid with glass, bears a quote from a key historical figure. On one wall is a famous quote from Martin Luther King, Jr., which echoes a well-known verse from the book of Amos: “We are determined to work and fight until justice runs down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.” Whenever I visit the Contemplative Court, I make sure to sit on the bench facing that wall so the quote appears behind the waterfall. The sight and sound of streaming water create a powerful experience, intensifying my longing for the reality of those words. That image kept coming to mind as our team created this reading plan.

The book of Amos gives us God’s view of justice and righteousness, primarily through Israel’s failure to practice them. They have exploited the poor for economic benefit. They have ignored and mistreated the most vulnerable members of their communities. And they have committed idolatry and other sinful actions. The imagery and sharp tone of Amos carry strong emotion, revealing God’s heart of righteousness and justice for all people. While God’s judgment warns punishment, it is also a prompt to return to Him. He shouts in Amos 5:4, “Seek me and live!”

That’s the call that rings throughout the centuries to us today. The book of Amos invites us to sit in the tension of the brokenness we have experienced and even perpetuated. But it’s not for guilt’s sake. God’s imperative to “let justice flow like water, and righteousness, like an unfailing stream” (Amos 5:24) is an invitation to life! 

I pray that during your time in the book of Amos you’ll also be prompted to lament the ways that you have turned from God and lean into Him even more. And that you would ultimately experience the refreshing, freeing, joyful, and abundant life that only God can give.

Jesus’s parables are diverse in length and content. Some last for several paragraphs; others are mere one-liners. Whatever the length or topic, He used the metaphors of each parable to drive home the truth of God’s Word. Today’s reading includes one of those shorter word pictures used to describe God’s kingdom. 

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field” (Matthew 13:31). Throughout the Gospels, Jesus constantly shows us what His kingdom looks like and what it doesn’t. The upside-down kingdom functions in ways that are uncharacteristic of this world. God’s kingdom is great and powerful, and we’d expect a more appropriately sized seed to represent it instead of the smallest of them all. Yet Jesus uses the imagery of the mustard seed to show us what His kingdom looks like. It starts small, Jesus says, but it continues to grow and grow.  

Since the days of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20), God’s kingdom has expanded exponentially. Just as He charged Peter and company to make disciples, Jesus calls us to share in His kingdom work and participate in its growth. Kingdom work is not exclusive to those with official church titles; it is the privilege of all believers. What a diverse—unified, but diverse—group of people we are. We all have different gifts that God uses to promote growth and harmony in the Church body (Ephesians 4:16).

When we share the gifts that God has given us with each other and with the world, we allow His power to work in us, transforming all. It isn’t our efforts or inner genius that produce results. It is all God, working through us to share the good news of the kingdom in various ways, powered by His Spirit. 

Kingdom work doesn’t equate to easy work. We are kingdom people, but our bodies and minds remain tethered to this earth. That means sin, with all its devastation and brokenness, is still present and active. In the midst of this brokenness God calls us to grow together and bring His example to the world (1Peter 2:11–12). No, kingdom work isn’t easy work. But as my boss often says, it is worth-it work.

What gifts has God given us? None are too small, none too insignificant—like the mustard seed. Let’s continue to ask the Lord for insight into how we can encourage and challenge each other as we grow and work together in His kingdom.

As a young teenager, I often dreamed of living in a faraway world, thanks to my favorite fantasy novels. I spent countless nights reading epic tales of heroes and villains, absently promising my sister/bunkmate lights out after just a few more pages. I longed to escape the realities of my broken world for the “happily ever afters” of my dog-eared paperbacks. I still do. 

Jesus invites us to a kingdom that outrivals the most enchanting worlds, real or fiction. We don’t need a portal to transport us to a distant land. Instead, the good and just King has brought God’s kingdom to reign on earth, and we are transformed into His redeemed subjects. The kingdom is here, but not everyone perceives it. 

In John 18, Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate, rejected by the Jewish leaders as the long-awaited Messiah and presented as a political threat. The scene between the two may seem less action-packed than the rest of Jesus’s Passion week, but the conversation is just as fascinating. The true King is in Pilate’s presence, unrecognized and misunderstood. The accused tells Pilate:

“I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: 
to testify to the truth” (John 18:37). 

Pilate does not fully comprehend Jesus’s words. Although they are discussing kingdoms, they are referring to two very different realms. Pilate has in mind a limited, earthly kingdom—Jesus does not (v.36). The kingdom He has in mind is anchored in truth and characterized by righteousness, justice, and peace. 

I was born for this. Jesus didn’t come to overthrow Rome’s government or to reform Jewish leadership. He came to testify to the truth and fulfill God’s will, bringing salvation to the world. He is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The good news of the gospel is that we belong to Him. Our reality is that we live on earth, but we truly belong to another world, a kingdom that does not belong to this world (John 18:36). This truth transforms us, bringing purpose and hope to the days we spend in this land. 

“You are a king then?” 

Pilate asked Jesus this question all those years ago (John 18:37). We can answer this question with certainty. Yes, He is the King… He is our King. His kingdom is here, active and present among us and in us. The journey He has invited us on is more epic than any hero’s tale and more wondrous than any fabled world.