Unhindered - The One Year Heaven on Earth Devotional

Read: Acts 28:23-31

He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Acts 28:30-31

IN WORD

The book of Acts begins with Jesus teaching about the Kingdom of God, and it ends with Paul teaching about it—unhindered. That’s significant because we’ve seen hindrances in the middle of the story as early believers encountered opposition and obstacles, sometimes from within their own ranks. But the overriding message in Acts is that the Good News of the Kingdom is contagious and unstoppable. It’s accompanied by the power and provision of God, and it will continue until its completion.

That’s why the story of Acts ends without ending. It leaves us hanging in the middle of the plot, primarily because the plot is still being written. Even today, we are writing chapters of the Kingdom in the way we live, speak, and act in the name of Jesus. As a prophet once wrote, the greatness of God’s Kingdom will never stop increasing (Isaiah 9:7). Every believer is a part of that story, and every believer’s role is important. The reason the book of Acts doesn’t have a firm ending is that the ending is up to us.

Live in the book of Acts. Don’t try to duplicate the same stories of the early church as though the Kingdom hasn’t grown or advanced since the first century; we live in a different time, and some of the issues we face are different. But the message is the same, the power available to us is the same, and the King who gave us the Kingdom mission is the same. Acts isn’t just the story of Peter, John, Philip, Stephen, James, and Paul. It’s the story of you.

IN DEED

If you really want Acts-like faith, take up the message that begins and ends the book—the Good News of the Kingdom. This message includes spiritual salvation, but it’s bigger than that. It begins with faith in the King, but it leads to great exploits and adventures on His behalf. It addresses your individual life, but it draws you into a bigger story. Live in that story with all boldness and no hindrance.

ADDITIONAL READING: Mark 16:19-20

The crowning wonder of God’s scheme is that He entrusted it to men.

HENRY DRUMMOND