THE CORNERSTONE

Confession of Peter
Acts 4:8-13 (NRSV)

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is
'the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;
it has become the cornerstone.'
There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.


DEVOTION

Ah!

This is one of my absolute favorite passages of scripture.

I pray that God will fill all of us with the holy boldness of Spirit that inhabited Peter as he declared under persecution, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."

Every day I pray that God will give me the courage to give Him all of the glory whether people praise or persecute me.

If I have done any good at all, it is because of Christ. And if I am hated and reviled because of my love for Jesus, so much the better!

Sometimes when we do good, we are tempted to allow others to praise us. We are tempted to take the accolades, because they feel good. But, when we can remember to point people to Jesus, who is the cornerstone of all that is good in our lives, it can radically alter the trajectory of another person's life for the good!

Today, won't you point someone to Jesus?

Be bold and very courageous, God will give you just the right words to say!


Let's pray: Oh God, fill me with your Spirit, so that I can boldly declare that Christ has died, risen, and is coming again! Thank you for allowing Him to die on the cross to atone for my sin and gift me with eternal life. Please help me to passionately share your love with others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta