Women's Devo | August 2021
Our Story Continues
The Apostle Paul wrote fourteen of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. That is over half of the New Testament. I would like for you to notice how he concluded these books. I can’t include all of them, but here are a few examples:
1 Corinthians 16:24 (KJV)
24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:14 (KJV)
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
Ephesians 6:24 (KJV)
24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Let us not forget those precious Gospels.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all end their writings with an official sign off, “AMEN!”
The Epistles of Peter, John, and Jude end with “AMEN!”
The great book of Revelation ends with, “AMEN!”
However, something very interesting happens with the book of Acts. Luke does something different and gives us no official conclusion! In his Gospel writings he concluded with “Amen,” however, the ending of Acts was abrupt. It was like he stopped in the middle of a sentence.
Why? I believe it is very simple. We are left with directions for continuance, recipes for the church’s success and an unending story to be lived out to this day.
What is Acts about? What is the subject? About Peter, John, or Paul? Most agree that Acts 1:8 is the theme of Acts:
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8 (KJV)
So, the book of Acts is about the Holy Spirit coming upon the early church and empowering them for witness which was and still is the commission of the church. It is simply witnesses telling the story of Jesus. Stories about Jesus changing lives--your life, my life--about how he changed whole communities and still does today.
We have all seen movies that lay the groundwork for a sequel as they are coming to an end. Although the movie has concluded, the story has not. Acts 28 finishes with the subliminal message, “To be continued!” The open-ended book tells us that we are Acts 29. We are to finish the story. It is still being written. It is our duty as the church to continue the task of spreading the word. It challenges us to finish what was started: REACHING THE LOST.
Heavenly Father, help us to realize that you are not through with us as women, men, or the church. Our greatest days are ahead. Let your sweet anointing rest upon us as we are sharing the good news with all that we meet, but especially our family members. Lord, I claim the salvation of loved ones who have been forgotten and have been marked as the “impossibles.” I claim this passage of scripture for us all.
Acts 16:31 (NLT2)
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”
AMEN!
1 Corinthians 16:24 (KJV)
24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:14 (KJV)
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
Ephesians 6:24 (KJV)
24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Let us not forget those precious Gospels.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all end their writings with an official sign off, “AMEN!”
The Epistles of Peter, John, and Jude end with “AMEN!”
The great book of Revelation ends with, “AMEN!”
However, something very interesting happens with the book of Acts. Luke does something different and gives us no official conclusion! In his Gospel writings he concluded with “Amen,” however, the ending of Acts was abrupt. It was like he stopped in the middle of a sentence.
Why? I believe it is very simple. We are left with directions for continuance, recipes for the church’s success and an unending story to be lived out to this day.
What is Acts about? What is the subject? About Peter, John, or Paul? Most agree that Acts 1:8 is the theme of Acts:
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8 (KJV)
So, the book of Acts is about the Holy Spirit coming upon the early church and empowering them for witness which was and still is the commission of the church. It is simply witnesses telling the story of Jesus. Stories about Jesus changing lives--your life, my life--about how he changed whole communities and still does today.
We have all seen movies that lay the groundwork for a sequel as they are coming to an end. Although the movie has concluded, the story has not. Acts 28 finishes with the subliminal message, “To be continued!” The open-ended book tells us that we are Acts 29. We are to finish the story. It is still being written. It is our duty as the church to continue the task of spreading the word. It challenges us to finish what was started: REACHING THE LOST.
Heavenly Father, help us to realize that you are not through with us as women, men, or the church. Our greatest days are ahead. Let your sweet anointing rest upon us as we are sharing the good news with all that we meet, but especially our family members. Lord, I claim the salvation of loved ones who have been forgotten and have been marked as the “impossibles.” I claim this passage of scripture for us all.
Acts 16:31 (NLT2)
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”
AMEN!
Kim Lee is the wife of Bishop Lamar Lee, who pastors the Baxley Church of God. Together, they have 22 plus years of pastoral ministry and many years of evangelizing. Lamar and Kim have been married for 29 years and they have three children: Landon 22, Lacey 18, and Logan 13. Kim currently serves on the South Georgia Women’s Ministries Board.
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