Daily Devotional
Encountering Jesus
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.”
Acts 4:13-14
April 18, 2025
Ponder This
How were these fishermen able to stand up to preach and five thousand come to Christ? It’s because Jesus lives, and they were not dependent on their own power of oratory or of logic to bring these people to Christ. There was a living Christ inside of them. Anything I can talk you into, somebody else can talk you out of. We are not preaching facts about a dead Christ of history; we present a living Christ. If eleven apostles who had seen Him with their own eyes could not convince Thomas of the resurrection, I’ll not be able to convince you. Do you know what convinced Thomas? He had an encounter with the living Lord. And when he had an encounter with the living Christ, he was convinced.
Do you know what you need today? An encounter with Jesus Christ. Not with the church, not with a pastor, not with a choir. You need to meet the living Christ. These people were brought into contact with the living Christ, and they were totally, absolutely changed.
- When did you first encounter Jesus? How did it change you?
- Who is someone you could share the Gospel with? Can you surrender your own efforts and depend on the Holy Spirit to help you do that?
Practice This
Pray and surrender to God, asking Him to allow you to see how He is alive and at work in your life.
For Your Gift to the Ministry
Step Into Your Mission with Courage and Purpose
Go Therefore is a bold, practical 6-week Bible study that equips you to confidently share your faith in a world that often resists the gospel. Learn to overcome fear, respond to tough questions, and live out your calling as a disciple of Jesus.
