How do we begin a new year together in God’s word? Often, we go back to the beginning of Genesis. This year is no exception in our daily readings. This year we go back to the beginning of the church in our daily devotionals. We are reading the sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Luke addresses both documents to someone named Theophilus. The name means one who loves God. If that is true of you, then this book is for you, too. Do you love God? Do you love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? If not, would you like to? This book is for you.
Luke researched the story of Jesus diligently and wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach. Jesus was taken up to heaven in the ascension, but not before he taught his disciples. In Acts, we discover the continuity between Christ and his church. Jesus continues to do and to teach through his disciples then and now. Again and again, Luke will offer us a snapshot, a “selfie” of the church in its early development. How did a ragtag group of fishermen, a tax collector, a zealot, and a few others change the world? God kept his promise. He sent his Holy Spirit. This book describes the Acts of the Holy Spirit in the early years of the church.
We are now living in chapter 29 of the book of Acts. I know. It is a long chapter. But Jesus continues to do and to teach through us as his people, imbued with and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus is still doing what he did. The good news still needs to be announced. Our God is still mighty to save. We are part of that story. None of us is the star. Jesus plays the starring role. But each of us has a part in the great drama of the ages. Will we do our part?
Bob Benson’s son played a bit part in an elementary school play. He prepared and then he spoke his lines. Not too soon. Not too late. Not too loud. Not too soft. He spoke his lines and he said them well. This is our hope at the end of the year we are beginning today: that we can hear from afar the voice of God saying about us, “They said their lines and they said them well – not too soon, not too late, not too loud, not too soft. They said their lines and they said them well.” Who are you in the play? You be Theophilus. Love God. You will do well!
