2026 Reading Plan Reflections - Day 170

Peter and John had been threatened and ordered to stop speaking in the name of Jesus. When they returned to the other believers, the church gathered to pray. Their circumstances were serious. The same authorities who had condemned Jesus were now warning his followers to remain silent. Yet, their prayer was not mainly about escape.

They didn't ask God to remove every difficulty or silence every opponent. Instead, they prayed, “Now, Lord, take note of their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with complete confidence” (Acts 4:29 CEB). They asked God to strengthen them to remain faithful.

I have prayed versions of that prayer many times. The circumstances have rarely been as dramatic as those faced by Peter and John, but there are still moments when following Jesus feels like entering a battle.

Sometimes the resistance comes from around us. Speaking honestly about Jesus and the freedom he brings will not always be welcome. Some pressures encourage the church to become quieter, safer, and less distinct.

At other times, the resistance is within us. We come to Scripture carrying our own preferences, experiences, and assumptions. Sometimes we want the text to confirm what we already think. But faithfulness requires something different — allowing God’s Word to challenge us, expose our bias, and reshape the way we think and live.

The believers in Acts did not build their prayer around their fear. They built it around who God is and what God had already spoken. They began by calling upon the God who created heaven, earth, sea, and everything in them. Then they remembered the words of Psalm 2, which describe the nations and rulers resisting God and his anointed King.

Their enemies appeared powerful, but they were not sovereign. God was still God. Jesus was still Lord. The mission was still moving forward.

That is where their confidence came from. They didn't deny the danger or pretend that the threats were harmless. They placed what was happening within the larger story of God’s faithfulness. That's something the church must continue to learn.

When opposition comes, we shouldn't allow it to determine our identity or control our response. We return to Scripture. We remember who God is. We ask the Holy Spirit for the courage to speak truthfully, love deeply, and continue the work Christ has given us.

God answered their prayer: “After they prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking God’s word with confidence” (Acts 4:31 CEB).

The room was shaken, but the believers were strengthened. They had already chosen faithfulness. They had gathered, prayed, and placed their trust in God. The Spirit now empowered them to continue with renewed boldness. But, their boldness was not seen only in their preaching. Luke immediately tells us that the believers were “one in heart and mind.” They shared what they had and made sure no one among them was left in need.

The same Spirit who gave them courage to speak also taught them to live with open hands. Their witness to the resurrection was not limited to sermons. It could be seen in the way they treated one another. Because Jesus was alive, possessions no longer held the same power over them. Their resources became tools for love, service, and mission. They began to regard the needs of other believers as their own.

That is a deeper picture of Christian unity than merely agreeing with one another. Unity becomes visible when we share burdens, make room, give generously, and take responsibility for the well-being of the Body of Christ.

Luke gives us Barnabas as a concrete example. He sold a field and brought the money to the apostles so it could be used to meet the needs of others.

Barnabas didn't just say that he believed in the mission. He placed something valuable at God’s disposal. Most of us won't be called to sell a field. But all of us have something God can use. We have time, abilities, homes, money, attention, encouragement, and influence. These gifts were not given merely for our own comfort. They can become instruments of grace in the hands of the Holy Spirit.

The question is not only, “What do I own?” The better question is, “What has God placed in my hands, and how might he use it for someone else?”

Acts 4 shows us a church under pressure, but not defeated. They were threatened, but they continued to speak. They were shaken, but they stood firm. They were filled with the Spirit, and that filling produced both courageous witness and generous love.

May the Holy Spirit strengthen us in the same way. When the battle is around us, may we remain bold. When the battle is within us, may we remain teachable. And in everything, may our lives show that Jesus Christ is alive.

Before asking God to change someone else, spend time allowing Scripture to examine you.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal one attitude, assumption, or possession that you have been holding too tightly. Repent where necessary, and take one practical step to place that part of your life at God’s disposal.