Scripture to Read: Acts 2:47
As God worked in the lives of all the new believers, He continued to change the lives of people around them. We read in Acts 2:47, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. We know from Acts 2:46 that the new believers shared their meals with great joy and generosity together. So, we see in Acts 2:47 that out of the overflow of their joy, the new believers also praised God together, and God gave them favor with the people around them. God loves when we praise Him privately and together with other believers. Praising God should be a regular part of every day as we recognize God’s work in us and through us. The book of Psalms is a great book to lead us to praise our Lord. The word “praise” is used 147 times in the book of Psalms. Psalms 150:1–6 uses the word “praise” thirteen times, so though it is the last of the Psalms, it’s a great place to start. As we praise God, people see the difference God makes in our lives, and they know our lives are built on Him and not this world. As people saw the changed lives of the new believers in Acts 2, God used those new believers to share Christ with the people around them, and “the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” God wants to use us in this same way as we praise Him together.
Challenge & Application
· Praising our Lord is an important part of our daily lives, so how are you practicing praising our Lord each day?
· Sharing Christ with those around us is what God has called us to do, so how are you sharing Him with others?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!