Today’s Community Scripture – 5/15/2025

That’s when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: “Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. These people aren’t drunk as some of you suspect. They haven’t had time to get drunk—it’s only nine o’clock in the morning.

This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:

“In the Last Days,” God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams. When the time comes, I’ll pour out my Spirit on those who serve me, men and women both, and they’ll prophesy. I’ll set wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, Blood and fire and billowing smoke, the sun turning black and the moon blood-red, Before the Day of the Lord arrives, the Day tremendous and marvelous; And whoever calls out for help to me, God, will be saved.” “Fellow Israelites, listen carefully to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man thoroughly accredited by God to you—the miracles and wonders and signs that God did through him are common knowledge—this Jesus, following the deliberate and well-thought-out plan of God, was betrayed by men who took the law into their own hands, and was handed over to you. And you pinned him to a cross and killed him. But God untied the death ropes and raised him up. Death was no match for him.

– Reflection:

The time after Jesus’ ascension must have been wild. A series of impossible events occurred, and the followers of Jesus were left to figure out how to tell the story until Jesus came back. Perhaps it’s not surprising that this passage in Acts is a paradox!

The author alternates between condemning the ignorance and disobedience of the people and reminding them of the covenant that spans generations. “Repent, therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out” (v. 19) is followed by “times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (v. 20). The people are reminded about the prophets who came with words of warning while also hearing that Jesus’ saving grace is for them.

How can people be both ignorant and sinful while also carrying the blessing of God? How can there be both wicked ways and universal restoration?

– Where do we go from here?

That’s much of the story of God and God’s people. What initially looks impossible or unimaginable reveals a deep truth about God. God is more expansive than we can ever understand. The unreconcilable is reconciled through the person of Jesus Christ. When we fall short, God accomplishes the impossible. We praise and serve the One who brings salvation despite sin and offers blessing through brokenness. Thanks be to God.

– Our Prayer for Today

Father of mystery and mercy, in the wake of resurrection and ascension, we, like the early disciples, are left in awe—trying to make sense of the impossible, trying to carry a story too big for words. You remind us through Scripture that we are both broken and beloved, ignorant yet chosen, wandering but still called home. Thank you for allowing us to confess the ways we have turned from You, and we cling to the promise that Your grace still reaches us. We are humbled by the truth that even in our sin, You offer us restoration, and even in our disobedience, You speak of refreshment. May Your Spirit guide us as we tell the story, until the day You return in fullness and glory. Amen.