During the #LentChallenge, we’ve been diving into Luke & Acts.
Remember that Luke and Acts are twinsies. When they’re read together, they paint a bright, joyous display of the ministry of Jesus and the disciples after the Resurrection. Both books are written by an anonymous author to Theophilus whose name means “Friend of God.”
During this Lent, I reflected on how to be a better friend of God, living wide-eyed to discover more facets of His character. I wanted to learn to follow Him more closely, and obey more swiftly.
(NOTE: Click here to download a FREE one-page reading guide of Luke and Acts. or upgrade to the downloadable ebook called The 40-Day Live Lent Challenge: A Color Method Study for Luke-Acts for only $8.99. This 200-plus page booklet includes: a welcome letter, the reading plan, instructions on how to use the Color Bible Study Method, ideas on how to get the most from your study, creative artwork, and space to journal and doodle.)
This weekend are celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus.
But it’s ironic that Acts ends without mentioning Paul’s fate.
Luke-Acts tells the story of the arrival, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the birth of the church, and how the Gospel reaches Rome and launches its journey to the ends of the earth.
As scholar (and personal hero) Darrell L. Bock notes:
“God sovereignly and powerfully brings the word to the capital of the world world on a long and arduous journey from Jerusalem. This journey has been coupled with unjust suffering and bold witness. As ironic as this combination may sound, it means triumph for the message of the kingdom and the Lord Jesus (Luke 28:30-31).” *
As I reflect on the journey of Jesus, the disciples, the church, Paul, and the missionary journeys, I recognize that:
Resurrection Day isn’t just an invitation to reflect back on all Jesus has done but to move forward on what Jesus calls us to do.
Jesus calls us to live as people who can’t keep the Good News to ourselves.
People who share Jesus with our neighbors and friends, travel companions and acquaintances.
We are meant to live on high alert for opportunities to share Jesus, to be like Jesus, to radiate Jesus.
The resurrection took place in Jesus so that the resurrection would take place in us and through us.
The real invitation of the resurrection is that we would be conduits of the Jesus-life, proclaiming His words, His acts, His power.
This is who we are. The people of God. The followers of Jesus. The church. Those who gather around the table to talk, share, encourage, pray, sing, and find a contagious joy in being the children of God that we can’t keep to ourselves.
So my hope and prayer is that the work God has been doing in you throughout this Lent season will continue throughout the year and you will draw closer to God and bring others with you.
What have you learned during this Lenten season?
*Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament by Darrell L. Bock. Baker Academic 2007. p. 750
