April 24 - Peter Describes Jesus to the Crowd

Acts 2:22-36

The events of Good Friday demonstrate both the horror of our sin and the beauty of God’s salvation. Peter’s words here underscore God’s intention to overcome anything that would diminish or steal from his children the life that is truly life. Sin, death, and the power of the devil have all been defeated through the cross and resurrection of Jesus, which was God’s plan all along.

Peter uses a critical word here to describe Jesus in this role:  "Lord." In Olde English, Lord is a combination of two words that together mean “bread keeper”. What a great name for Jesus! Because the good life is ours only when we allow God in Christ to satisfy our deepest hunger and
desires. Yet as broken human beings, we have an almost unlimited capacity to resist God's tending and provision. In fact, we can become so trapped in our bondage to other "bread-keepers" that we’ll resist and even kill Jesus, because he challenges our other "bread" systems that promise fulfillment and security.

This passage should lead us to ask, “What false systems of salvation have I become dependent upon in my life?” Peter Scazzero in his book, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, suggests three false systems: 1) Basing our value on what we do. 2) Basing our value on what we have. 3) Basing our value on how others see us (our popularity or relevance).

Where in my life am I trying to play God?  What is motivating me?  Fear, pride, anxiety? Anything we honor and value above God’s voice is ultimately dangerous to us, because it means rejecting the true Bread of Life for something that can only satisfy temporarily and incompletely - some thing or person or activity that will never meet our deepest need for forgiveness, acceptance, peace, and more.

Prayer: God, thank you for being the One who supplies all my needs. Would you expose any places in my life where I have traded your love for a false "bread-giver"? Empower me to look to you for every good and perfect gift, and to let go of cheap substitutes today, whatever they may be. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Bread and Lord! Amen.