Daily Reading

Oops! Forgot to post yesterday . . . let's double up our reading today to make up for it.

Acts 22:22-23:35; Psalm 60 & 61; Proverbs 11:15-17

Paul has just given his testimony to the crowd, but they rejected it. So, the commander in charge has him arrested in order to discover why the crowds are so against him. Once inside, Paul reveals he is a Roman citizen. Why is this important? Well, Paul is in a Roman-occupied city. At this time, Rome is the biggest empire out there & it's citizens are treated differently than the citizens of the conquered countries Rome occupies. A citizen of Rome by birth has more rights than a person who has bought his citizenship. (Think of an immigrant coming to the United States & becoming a citizen. In those days, the immigrant would have paid money to become a citizen.)

Since Paul has rights, the commander of the guard wastes no time in figuring out what is going on. He assembles the chief priests & the Sanhedrin (the Jewish court) along with Paul. In typical fashion Paul speaks the words of the Lord, which cause the Jews to become enraged. But this time, Paul has some pretty harsh words for the High Priest, Ananias. Our historical books describe Ananias as greedy, profane, & hot-tempered. He held the highest position in the Jewish faith, yet he lacked any of his own. Judaism to Ananias was a job & a lifestyle, not a relationship and Paul calls him on it. Paul then appeals to the believes of the two groups of religious leaders. We'll compare them to republicans & democrats. Both worked for Judaism - which was a religion & government all rolled into one, but they had very different beliefs. As a trained Pharisee, Paul is very knowledgeable concerning the beliefs of these two groups. A violent disagreement breaks out & Paul is removed to the barracks for his own safety. Once there, God encourages Paul & tells him that his work is not done yet, he will also preach in Rome.

A plot to kill Paul is hatched, but his brave nephew informs the Roman commander & Paul is taken to the Roman governor in Caesarea for a trial.

So, what do I take out of today's reading?

1. Be knowledgeable -know your stuff - so you can witness to others. You need to read your Bible & know the Scriptures.


2. Do not rely on your Bible knowledge. This might sound contradictory, but it's not enough just to memorize the Bible. You need a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in order to understand what the Bible is talking about. The Sanhedrin were very knowledgeable, but they had no relationship & therefore no true understanding of what religion truly is.

Daily Reading

Acts 21:37-22:16: Psalm 59; Proverbs 11:14

Paul gets permission to speak to the assembled crowd that is having him arrested. He gives his testimony - his story of salvation - & the people reject it. The point here is: you are not called by God to save people, you are simply called to tell people about salvation. Share your story, tell them how Jesus has affected your life. Then let them make their own decision. Don't be discouraged if they dismiss you, or even persecute you for your faith. Simply stay faithful to the Lord & continue to share, share, share your story.

Daily Reading

Acts 21:1-36; Psalm 57:1-11; Proverbs 11:9-11

This reading may be a little confusing, because Paul is warned several times not to go to Jerusalem, but he is steadfast in his committment to go. Is he disobeying the Holy Spirit? No, check out verse 14, "The Lord's will be done." See, Paul's friends and the followers he ran into knew he would face hardships & trials in Jerusalem so they warned him away. It's much like the disciples warning Jesus away from the cross. Our human nature wants to avoid pain & trials, and keep our friends safe. But safety is not always the right road to take. Paul heeded the will of the Lord & gladly went were he was called.

Once Paul arrives in Jerusalem there is some controversy. Some Jewish Christians are saying that Paul had completely turned away from Jewish custom and was teaching other Jews to forsake their customs. If you remember back in Acts 15, the Jerusalem council had settled a disagreement concerning the entrance of Gentiles into the Christian faith. It was determined that Gentiles did not need to become Jewish to become Christians. To show that Paul was not working against the council's decision, he took part in a Jewish custom to keep the peace. Paul demonstrates a good point here - don't get caught up in the nonessential points. I call them heaven or hell points. Is the disagreement based on a foundational truth, something that is key to salvation; or is the disagreement based on minor issue that is open to some interpretation, for example woman not wearing pants or make-up or your believe on when the rapture will take place. "Paul was a man of strong convictions, but he was willing to compromise on the nonessential points, becoming all things to all people so that he could save some. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)." (NIV Study Bible)

Finally, prophecy has come true & the Jews of the city attack & attempt to kill Paul. The Roman commander breaks up the riot, arrests Paul & takes him to the barracks for questioning. Now, it may seem that Paul has gone through an awful lot in preaching the Gospel. He has, but notice he is not concerned with his physical life. He has found something much, much better to occupy his time with - a relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul recognizes that the trials he faces only present further opportunities to preach to even more people. Watch & see what happens next!

The psalm today is a wonderful song of worship & proverbs continues to contrast the life of the righteous & the life of the wicked. It doesn't paint a very pretty picture for the wicked, now does it?

Daily Reading

Acts20:1-38; Psalms 56:1-13; Proverbs 11:8

So Paul continues to travel, preaching the Good News in every town he comes to, leaving when the threat to his life becomes to severe. Then we read about a long sermon & a young man who falls asleep & out of a window. Paul raises him from the dead. Many jokes have been made about long-winded sermons here, but the real point is the power of God.

Also notice the pronoun "we" is being used quite a bit. This indicates that the author of Acts, Luke, was present at these events. He traveled with Paul and witnessed all sorts of miracles and teachings.

Our reading today ends with Paul in Ephesus. He tells the congregation there that this is his final visit. He reminds them of his example and asks them to follow it. What was Paul's example? He declared the Good News, he worked hard, and he focused on giving rather than receiving. Good models to follow.

He also warns them to be ware of false teachers and prophets who will try to destroy the church. We need to be on the lookout ourselves for false teachers & false teachings. That is why it is so important to read your Bible. That way you can match up the teachings you hear with the true Word of God. A good example is the teaching that the world was going to end on May 21, 2011. Obviously it didn't happen, but the preacher who made this prophecy now states that he got the dates mixed up and the end of the world is now October 21, 2011. Well, we know from the word that "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." Matthew 24:36. It also says in Deuteronomy 18:22 that "when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him." Basically, he no longer speaks for the Lord. So, by knowing the Word, we can judge the words of a preacher as valid or invalid.

Are you feeling down in the dumps? Having trouble with a certain person or group of people? Read Psalm 56. It puts the focus back on God & away from mere man.

Daily Reading

Since I will be away from my computer for the next few days - I'm going to post the next four readings today:
5/20 - Acts 17:1-34; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 11:1-3
5/21 - Acts 18:1-21; Psalm 52:1-6; Proverbs 11:4
5/23 - Acts 18:22-19:12; Psalm 54:1-7; Proverbs 11:5-6
5/24 - Acts 19:13-14; Psalm 55:1-23; Proverbs 11:7

The missionary journey continues & churches are established in:

1. Thessalonica - here the non-believing Jews stir up the community & Paul and Silas are urged to leave for their safety.


2. Berea - here they are warmly received, but Jews from Thessalonica come & stir up the crowd. Once again, Paul leaves for his safety. Silas & Timothy stay in with plans to join him later.


3. Athens - a city full of idol worship and curiosity concerning anything new & unusual. Paul was asked to preach. Note that Paul did not give a wishy-washy sermon so as not to offend anyone. Rather, Paul spoke the truth in love. Some followed, some did not - as has been the case in each city. Missionary work is not about manipulating the Good News into something that everyone will accept. It is about presenting the Truth to people & letting the Holy Spirit work in their lives. Remember, you cannot save anyone with your words, you can simply present them with the opportunity of salvation. The rest is up to them. So don't water down the Gospel for in doing so, you're not really helping anyone find the Truth, you're really selling them a cheap lie.


4. Corinth - Paul spent at least a year & a half here at the instruction of the Lord. The Jews attempted to have the government intervene, but the proconsul was unwilling to address matters concerning religion. The Jews handled the matter themselves by beating Paul. From Corinth, Paul sails to Ephesus, leaving Priscilla & Aquila there. Then he headed back to Antioch.

*There is a note concerning Paul cutting his hair, which is interesting. Paul was probably keeping the vow of the Nazarite (Numbers 6). The purpose of this vow was to express a dedication to the service of the Lord. The person taking the vow would not cut their hair, would not eat anything pertaining to a grape, and would not go near a dead body. Once the vow was over, the person would cut their hair & present it to the Lord in a special offering in Jerusalem.

Paul took a rest in Antioch before starting out on his third missionary journey. He then headed to:

1. The Galacian region where he visited the established churches.


2. Ephesus - Paul now enters into Asia for the next two years, teaching & making disciples. Many have heard of John the Baptist, but they have no further teaching. Paul teaches them about Jesus and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. God was also performing mightily miracles through Paul. In fact, some non-believing Jews attempted to use the name of Jesus almost like a magic spell. This backfired on them and many people became believers. Once again greed takes over, for the idol business has been in recession due to the growth of the church. A silversmith incites other businessmen & a great riot breaks out. Our reading ends when a town clerk speaks sanity into the crowd.

So, what can we learn from this long reading? Follow the leading of the Lord. Speak the Truth in Love. Keep on keeping on - there will always be people we resent the truth & will do almost anything to quench it. Don't lose heart, for God is mightier than these people.

Daily Reading

Acts 16:16-40; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 10:31-23

Paul & Silas are thrown into prison for delivering a girl from demonic possession. Sometimes the right thing to do isn't the most popular thing to do. Especially when the right thing causes discomfort for the greedy and self-involved.

So, did Paul & Silas let a little thing like a beating & jail get them down? No, they sang songs of praise & spent time in prayer. A positive attitude is key to a happy life. You know that old saying, "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade?" Well that's exactly how Paul lead his life. Learn from him!

So, God sends an earthquake to release the prisoners, but Paul is attuned to the ways of the Lord, and they stay in the jailhouse. Their obedience opens the door for the salvation of the prison guard & his entire family. Think about the incredible opportunities God gives us every day to witness to others. That wonderful miracle of simply sharing your faith & watching God change some one's life. Watch for these moments! Spend time in prayer, talking to your Heavenly Father so you know His voice & can respond to the opportunities He opens for you.

Finally, the chief magistrates attempt to quietly release Paul & Silas, but Paul holds these men accountable for their actions. This is an important lesson to learn - those in positions of power will be held more accountable for their actions because they influence the actions of others. As a citizen of the United States, take your role seriously. Watch our leaders & hold them accountable for their actions. We have the power of the vote in which to ensure our leaders stand for what is right, not what is popular. Take this responsibility seriously!

Psalm 51 is a wonderful prayer of repentance & relationship. Pray it out loud to God. Make it your prayer.

Proverbs 10:31-32 is all about your tongue. What you say, the words that come out of your mouth display the condition of your heart. What is coming out of your mouth? Do you have some heart cleansing to do?

Daily Reading

Acts 15:36-16:15; Psalm 50:1-23; Proverbs 10:27-30

It has been three years, and Paul is ready for another mission trip. Barnabas wants to bring Mark, but Paul isn't ready to trust him after Mark deserted them on the first mission. So, Paul & Barnabas split up. Paul takes Silas along with him and heads north to Antioch. Barnabas & Mark head west to the island of Cyprus. The two great missionaries disagreed and split up, but God still used both men to further his kingdom. Instead of one team heading out, two did. It is also important to notice that reputations proceed you. Be wise in making your decisions, knowing your actions will hold you accountable to others. When you face a tough decision, look to the Scriptures and pray about what you are going to do & why. Don't just follow rash emotions.

In Lystra, Timothy joins Paul's team. Paul asks him to be circumcised since he is currently half-Jewish & being circumcised will help him preach to the Jewish community. Isn't this in conflict with Paul's previous teaching that one didn't need to be circumcised to be a believer? Actually, there are two different issues here. Timothy is already a believer. He did not agree to circumcision so he could be part of the church. Instead, he voluntarily did this to go beyond the minimum requirements in order to help the Jewish community receive the Good News. When you become a missionary to a different culture, you will be asked to adapt in some ways to that culture so as not to offend the people. A woman may be asked to wear certain clothing or cover her hair or face. Men may be asked to also wear certain clothing or to remove facial hair. It's all about showing respect to the people you are ministering too. Timothy's willingness to show respect and honor lead to the strengthening of the church and many converts.

Paul wants to head into Asia to bring the Good News there, but the Holy Spirit leads him away. By being faithful to the Holy Spirit and following His leading, Paul met a woman, Lydia, who became a prominent member of the Christian church. God has a purpose & a plan. When we are faithful to listen, we become tools in the unfolding of that plan. So, once again & I cannot say this enough - be still & listen. Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and flow in the plans of the Lord. It's like stepping into a river. Going with the flow is peaceful and comforting. Swimming against the current is tiring and it is much, much harder to get anywhere.

Daily Reading

Acts 14:1-15:35; Psalm 46:1-11; Proverbs 10:24-25

So a bit of a religious conflict has set in - the Jews verses the Christians. But Paul & Barnabas keep on keeping on. They preach the word "boldly and with reliance upon the Lord." (vs. 3) This religious conflict is still waging, for there are many who are blinded to the truth. It is our job as Christians to boldly preach the Word of the Lord with reliance upon Him who sends us. If you truly believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord & Savior, then how can you not tell others about Him?

Notice the tenacity of Paul - he is stoned & dragged out of the city, yet he gets back up & continues preaching. This is a man of great conviction. He truly believes that what he really believes is really true. He has the cure for lives aliments & he's not going to let anything or anyone stop him from telling others. Learn from him, catch his passion!

Now, within the Christian church there was some discord - many thought that to become a Christian, a person had to first become Jewish. Paul & Barnabas disagreed. Notice how they resolved the conflict - they met together to discuss the issue. After thoughtful debate in which they looked to Scripture and at the evidence, they came to the conclusion that God has made a way for EVERYONE to enter into His family. Christianity is not about how good you are, how many rules you follow, or whether you were born into a certain family. Christianity is about faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord & Savior. period. no more.

When you are facing a trial or a difficult decision, do what the disciples did - get together with trustworthy, wise Christians and look at the Scriptures. God has given us everything we need in His book.

Psalm 46 offers good advice in times of trouble - rely on Him, look to Him, cease striving & know that He is in control.

Daily Reading

Acts 13:1-52; Psalm 45:1-17; Proverbs 10:22,23

Saul, also known as Paul, and Barnabas are called by the Holy Spirit to embark on a mission trip. Notice when they go to the Islands, they start by preaching in the synagogue. There they preach a sermon that reminds the Jewish people of their history and the prophecies concerning the Messiah. They make is a point to show that Jesus has fulfilled the prophecy spoken of in the Torah (the Jewish Bible). Please remember that the good news is to be preached to the Jews & Paul has given us the method in which to do it. Remind them of the prophecies concerning the coming Messiah, for many are still waiting for them. Then explain how Jesus fulfilled those prophecies.

Paul & Barnabas' message resonated with many of the Jews and they began to follow him. Then Paul & Barnabas took the message to the Gentiles. The Gentiles rejoiced that they were now being given the opportunity to enter into a personal relationship with God, but the Jewish people became jealous of this invitation. Paul spoke plainly to all & continued to minister to everyone regardless of persecution.

The ministry of Paul is vital & important & we can learn so much from it. We need to rely on God for our every breath & we need to listen to His call. Remember that we are His voice, His mouthpiece & it is our calling to tell others about Him, to offer His grace & mercy & forgiveness to everyone we know. Paul answered the call, will you?

Daily Reading

We have a lot to catch up on, but happily our blog is up & running:

Read Acts 10-12:23; Psalms 42-44; Proverbs 10:17-21

So far, the gospel has been preached to the Jews & the Samaritans. The Samaritans were half-Jewish. Now God is sending His apostles to the gentiles. To do so, He gives Peter some specific instructions. Prior to this the Jewish nation was to stay separated from the rest of the world. This was the Old Covenant - a specific group of people called to be His people obeyed His laws & maintained a relationship with Him. Now that Jesus has died & rose again - God is opening the doors. This is the New Covenant - all those that believe that Jesus is the Messiah are a part of his family. Peter obeys & soon the Gospel is being spread to the gentiles. The Christian church is now rapidly expanding.

The point here is that the law is not in place to save you - it's there to keep you safe. What saves you is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It's not about what you eat or drink, it's not about the clothes you wear, or whether you're circumcised or uncircumcised. It's all about faith.

During this time, Herod began persecuting the Christians. The disciples James was executed & Peter was arrested. But God still has plans for Peter & He breaks him out of prison. Soon after this Herod dies by the hand of the Lord for accepting the glory of Lord.

Daily Reading

Acts 8:14-9:43; No Psalm; Proverbs 10:13-16

The first portion of our reading provides some more details about the spreading of the gospel. Notice that some men are thinking in physical terms that can be bought with a price - like Simon the magician. Others are curious & looking for answers - like the Ethiopian. The apostles continue to be ready & willing to speak the truth into the lives of these believers. We too must be willing to speak the truth to those who have not yet met Jesus. Correct their misunderstandings & answer their questions. For everyone should have the opportunity to meet the Living God.

The second portion of our reading pertains to Saul - the religious man who is so passionately persecuting the Christians. Again, Saul is attempting to wipe out what he sees as a cult. But Jesus Himself appears to Saul & Saul becomes convinced that Jesus is the Messiah. He radically changes his life around & uses that same passion he has for spreading the Gospel. Saul's life was not an easy one, but he was a man convinced of the truth & he was willing to preach Jesus' name regardless of the consequences. As we continue to read the book of Acts, we will see that Saul is credited with spreading the Gospel to many countries. He also wrote the majority of the New Testament.

The final portion of our reading pertains to Peter - another man of great passion. In the Gospels we see that Peter was impulsive & sometimes ruled by his emotions. He often stuck his foot in his mouth. But here in Acts, we see a confident man who preaches & heals. So what changed? Jesus - Peter learned to rely solely on Jesus & the Holy Spirit.

Are you convinced? Is Jesus enough for you? Give your life to Him, listen to the guiding of the Holy Spirit & watch your life change too.

In Proverbs we read that a life lived with God's wisdom brings life, but a life lived with man's wisdom brings death.

Daily Reading

Acts 7:51-8:13; Psalm 40:1-10; Proverbs 10:11-12

So, Stephen concludes his speech by accusing the chief priests & leaders of being as ignorant & blind as the Israelites of old - persecuting & killing the prophets of God. Naturally this infuriated the council & they drag him out & stoned him.

Stop for a moment & think of how you respond to the truth, especially when it points out your faults. Are you quick to listen, slow to anger & slow to speak? (James 1:19) Meaning: do you take the time to hear what is being said & process it for what it is. Or do you instantly jump to defensiveness & ignore the truth before your eyes? I will admit that I too often jump to defend myself. I pray that not only myself, but my readers also, learn to implement the life lessons found here & in James 1:19.

Now - the account of the stoning provides two interesting pieces of information. First, a young man named Saul was all for this punishment. In fact, he was so passionate about preserving the Jewish faith that he lead the persecution against the newly founded Christian church. In fear of their lives & safety, Christians fled the area & began preaching in new towns.

Never forget - what man does for evil, God can turn to good. You see, in his attempts to wipe out "The Way" (the early Christian church) Saul actually pushed the believers into spreading the gospel as they fled to safer cities. So, don't lose hope when YOUR plans don't work out - trust God "for all things work together for good for those who love the Lord & are called to His good purpose." Romans 8:28 So hold onto your faith & believe that God is working for your good. Then you will be able to praise the Lord for His great works just as our psalmist did in Psalm 40.

The second lesson we see if found in Stephen's character. He continues to praise the Lord even in his stoning for the Lord was with him. His focus wasn't on what was happening, his focus was on the love of his life - the Lord. When we focus on the Lord instead of our circumstances, we find joy, love, & peace. In fact, we even find the strength to forgive our tormentors! From experience & can tell you that harboring unforgiveness in your heart is like walking around all day with a heavy weight tied around your neck. There is no happiness there - rather you are all caught up in bitterness & resentment that spills over into every aspect of your life. So - focus on the Lord & His ways. Let go of bitterness & unforgiveness & find peace, love, & joy.

Proverbs 10:11-12 also speaks of today's lesson: righteousness brings life & love; wickedness breeds hatred & strife.

Daily Reading

Acts 7:30-50; Psalm 39:1-13; Proverbs 1o:10

Why is Stephen giving a history lesson to the chief priests & leaders of the temple? Surely they know this material since they have been studying it their whole lives & teaching it to others. As we continue to read this sermon, we will see that Stephen has a very important point - the chief priests & leaders know the material, but they refuse to open their eyes to the truth that is right in front of them. Stephen is reminding them of the prophecies & the wicked hearts of the people. We will keep reading this sermon tomorrow.

Psalms & Proverbs tell us to recognize our sins and to turn away from them by relying on the power of the Lord. Be honest with yourself & realize that you can't do it on your own, then reach out to the Lord.

Daily Reading

Acts 7:1-29; Psalm 38:1-22; Proverb 10:8-9

You want a good summary of the Bible? Look no further than Stephen's speech in Acts 7. Today we read half of it, tomorrow we will read the conclusion. In today's reading, Stephen is summarizing the history of the Jewish people. If you have never read the Old Testament, this speech hits the high points of the story told in Genesis & Exodus.

Psalm 38 paints a picture of a man consumed by his sin - & it's not too pretty. But what does this man do? He calls out to God for forgiveness & he trusts that the Lord will hear his cry & answer him.

Proverbs is still comparing the wise & the foolish. Notice a wise man is humble & willing to learn & accept help while the foolish man is full of pride & attempts to do it all on his own. Hmmm . . . those who are humble & willing seem to get the better deal. What the world paints as weakness is actually a willingness to enter into right & true relationships. Try it, you might find it beneficial.

Daily Reading

Acts 6:1-15; Psalm 37:29-40; Proverbs 10:6-7

So, anytime there is a program, a group, an organization there will be troubles, complaints & issues to deal with. The disciples made a wise choice in appointing elders to assist in the day-to-day issues of the new Christian church. This way, the disciples could continue to focus on preaching & teaching and the church could still function in its social work. The disciples didn't just choose random men, they sought candidates that were wise & full of the Holy Spirit. Seven men were chosen. This delegation freed up the disciples & the numbers in the Christian church continued to grow.

Stephen, one of the elders, was arrested for his works. Witnesses gave false testimony & tomorrow we will read about Stephens response.

So, what can we learn from this reading? The pastor is not solely responsible for the church. He is our preacher & teacher. Others need to come along side the pastor & assist in the daily business of the church. What area do you help in? If you're not committed to an area - where can you help? The church isn't just a building. It's not about Sunday mornings. Our church is a family, every one has a part to play. Pray & ask God where you should join in.

Our psalm reminds us to be patient & wait on the Lord. Be reminded that He is taking care of things in His timing - which is must superior to our timing. So wait & trust that God is in control.

Daily Reading

Acts 5:1-42; Psalm 37:12-28; Proverbs 10:5

Yikes! A couple falls down dead for attempting to deceive the Lord. What is interesting here is these people owned the property & the money they received from selling the property. It was up to them to give the amount they felt was right. Instead, they tried to make themselves look good by pretending to give it all. They allowed greed & pride to rule their actions. What we need to learn here is that God cares more about your heart & the intent behind your actions than about what you give. So, take careful stock of why you are doing what you are doing.

The church is rapidly growing & gaining a good reputation. Unfortunately, this good reputation serves to further irritate the chief priests & leaders. The apostles are put into jail, they are even flogged, but they continue to obey & serve the Lord. I love what Peter says to the cheif priests, "We must obey God rather than men."

A wise Pharisee cautions the religious leaders to watch & wait. If this movement is of man, it will die out, but if it is of the Lord, it will continue to grow. I would say this movement is of the Lord, for 2,000 years later, this movement is the number one religion in the world. So, praise God that the disciples stood firm in their faith & did not allow themselves to be silenced. Learn from them & do the same. Do not cower, but proclaim the name of Jesus boldly!

Daily Reading

Forgive me - it's been a very busy couple of days! This is the first time I have logged on to my computer since Thursday.

Daily Reading: Acts 4:1-37; Psalm 37:1-11; Proverbs 10:3-4

Those chief priests & leaders are up to it again. They thought they had ended this issue when they had Jesus put to death. But now, His uneducated disciples have taken up were Jesus left off. Oh, the troublemakers! Rather than be amazed at the wonderful works that the disciples are accomplishing - the proof that Jesus was who He said He was - they are offended that these non-professionals are swaying the loyalties of the people. So, what do they do? They threaten, but Peter & John do not give up their calling. And this is a good point to remember -fear God, not man; look to the eternal, not the temporary.

Notice also that the disciples didn't run away scared or pray for God to save them. Instead, they prayed for boldness & they continued on. So, keep on keeping on. Trust God to get you through whatever you're dealing with today & pray for boldness that you may share your faith with others.

The psalm & proverb of the day provide a good deal of encouragment - trust in God, don't worry about those that seek to harm you, work hard & enjoy the fruits of your labor. God is there, always there, so put your faith in Him & find peace & joy.