Week Sixteen
We wrap up the book of Acts this week, which seems to me to be way too fast! There are so many morsels of truth and revelation of how God works in this book. Don’t ever be afraid to sit in a passage for a couple of days or weeks, even if it puts you behind in the reading! The whole reason we began this journey was to help us gain a new level of abiding in our relationship with Jesus and each other. The goal is not really finishing the New Testament in six months. The goal is abiding deeper and in a more sustainable way because our lives won’t be over in six months!
This journey of reading and abiding is taking us somewhere. Maybe it’s somewhere new for you. Or maybe it’s going deeper into the heart of Jesus than you ever have before. Maybe it’s stretching you to ask questions about the Word of God that you have never been vulnerable enough to ask. Maybe like me, you have found a new community of people who are willing to ask questions and share their thoughts not always knowing if they are right or wrong, finding the way of abiding in Jesus together. I pray one or all of these is true for you!
The book of Acts sets the stage for the rest of the New Testament you are about to encounter. Much of what remains to be read was written by Paul and so pay attention to the places that are logged in these final chapters as you will encounter them again. As you read Acts chapter 26 I would like you to pause at verses 16-18. Read the words silently once, and then read them out loud at least once — they are Jesus’ words. Ponder what Jesus says and ask yourself if you know to whom you are sent to open their eyes. If you don’t know, now is a good time to put that question before God.
As disciples, we all have a people to whom we are sent to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, from the power of satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus. That seems like a daunting calling. Maybe it’s only for Paul and people like him — the super apostles! But, I don’t think so. Jesus said more than once, and in a variety of ways, that we are to go and make disciples. I never saw an asterisk indicating a footnote of which disciples were excluded. The good news is, our responsibility is to go and be obedient to what Jesus is calling us to do. The Holy Spirit does the rest and He is faithful 100% of the time to do His part. Don’t be afraid! What I am saying is true and reasonable!
Who is Jesus calling you to? Where are you called to take the gospel? You can write a comment below, or reach me, Melissa, at mrightmire@crnaz.com . Thank you for traveling with me on this journey through the New Testament.
Below are the readings for week 16:
April 17, 2025 Acts 25–26 NIV, Ps 90 NIV
April 18, 2025 Acts 27 NIV, Ps 91:1–6 NIV
April 19, 2025 Acts 28 NIV, Ps 91:7–16 NIV
April 20, 2025 Rom 1 NIV, Ps 92 NIV
April 21, 2025 Rom 2:1–3:8 NIV, Ps 93 NIV
April 22, 2025 Rom 3:9–4:25 NIV, Ps 94 NIV
