Bible League: Living His Word "'And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'"— Acts 2:21 NIV In his great sermon on Pentecost the Apostle Peter quoted the words of our verse for today from the prophecy of Joel (Joel 2:28—32). They are words that describe what Peter called "the last days" (Acts 2:17). By "last days" he means the days when God pours out His Holy Spirit on people, the days between Pentecost and the return of Jesus Christ. During the last days, "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." We are living in the last days now; therefore, we also will be saved if we call on the name of the Lord. Peter's quotation has two applications. In one part, it means that we will be saved eternally. It means that our souls will go to heaven when we die and that at the second coming of Jesus, we will be raised body and soul, to enjoy the new heaven and the new earth. Those who call on the name of the Lord will escape the flames of hell and will rest secure with the Lord forever. In the other part, Peter's quotation means that we will be saved from our enemies in the here and now. Salvation, in other words, is more than just a future reality. It applies to us right now as well. Whenever trials, troubles, tribulations, and persecutions come our way we can call on the name of the Lord. The Lord will respond to our calls, and we will receive what we need to endure all our troubles and even overcome them. After all, we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13). The point of Peter's quotation, then, is that we should call on the name of the Lord. We should not stay silent, but with heartfelt zeal, call out to Jesus by name. If we do, we will see salvation in the here and now, confirming our hope in the future as well. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingLamentations 3, 4, 5 Lamentations 3 -- Jeremiah Shares Israel's Affliction and Prays for Deliverance NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Lamentations 4 -- The Distress of the Siege NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Lamentations 5 -- Zion's Prayer for Mercy NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Hebrews 8 Hebrews 8 -- Jesus the High Priest of a New Covenant NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.Insight Doing everything “as a representative of the Lord Jesus” means bringing honor to Christ in every aspect and activity of daily living. As a Christian, you represent Christ at all times—wherever you go and whatever you say. Challenge What impression do people have of Christ when they see or talk with you? What changes would you make in your life in order to honor Christ? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Deuteronomy 33:27 Underneath are the everlasting arms.God--the eternal God--is himself our support at all times, and especially when we are sinking in deep trouble. There are seasons when the Christian sinks very low in humiliation. Under a deep sense of his great sinfulness, he is humbled before God till he scarcely knows how to pray, because he appears, in his own sight, so worthless. Well, child of God, remember that when thou art at thy worst and lowest, yet "underneath" thee "are everlasting arms." Sin may drag thee ever so low, but Christ's great atonement is still under all. You may have descended into the deeps, but you cannot have fallen so low as "the uttermost;" and to the uttermost he saves. Again, the Christian sometimes sinks very deeply in sore trial from without. Every earthly prop is cut away. What then? Still underneath him are "the everlasting arms." He cannot fall so deep in distress and affliction but what the covenant grace of an ever-faithful God will still encircle him. The Christian may be sinking under trouble from within through fierce conflict, but even then he cannot be brought so low as to be beyond the reach of the "everlasting arms"--they are underneath him; and, while thus sustained, all Satan's efforts to harm him avail nothing. This assurance of support is a comfort to any weary but earnest worker in the service of God. It implies a promise of strength for each day, grace for each need, and power for each duty. And, further, when death comes, the promise shall still hold good. When we stand in the midst of Jordan, we shall be able to say with David, "I will fear no evil, for thou art with me." We shall descend into the grave, but we shall go no lower, for the eternal arms prevent our further fall. All through life, and at its close, we shall be upheld by the "everlasting arms"--arms that neither flag nor lose their strength, for "the everlasting God fainteth not, neither is weary." Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 78:53 He led them safely, so that they did not fear; But the sea engulfed their enemies.Proverbs 8:20 "I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, Exodus 23:20 "Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Isaiah 63:9 In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the angel of His presence saved them; In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, And He lifted them and carried them all the days of old. Psalm 44:3 For by their own sword they did not possess the land, And their own arm did not save them, But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, For You favored them. Isaiah 63:14 As the cattle which go down into the valley, The Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So You led Your people, To make for Yourself a glorious name. Psalm 5:8 O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; Make Your way straight before me. Psalm 43:3,4 O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your dwelling places. • Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |