Take 20.
Let Your Life Point to Jesus
Jesus calls us to live in a way that draws people toward God. Our calling isn't only about what we say; it is also about the way we treat people and the kind of people we become. Love, kindness, generosity, patience, forgiveness, humility, and thoughtfulness can make our faith visible to the people around us. Our everyday lives can become an invitation for others to see what Jesus is like.
You Are Called Now
Jesus called His followers to be salt and light right where they were. He didn't tell them to wait until they were more mature, knowledgeable, or spiritually disciplined. He called the people who were standing in front of Him at that moment. In the same way, Jesus isn't waiting for a future version of us before He can use us. He has called us to live for Him right now.
You Were Designed on Purpose
You are not an accident or an afterthought. God knows you completely and has intentionally designed you, including the experiences, abilities, personality, and story that have shaped you. Psalm 139 reminds us that God saw us before we ever saw ourselves. Even the parts of our story that we struggle to understand or appreciate can become part of what God uses for His purposes.
Eat With Hope
Communion looks backward and forward at the same time. We remember what Jesus has done, but we also anticipate the day when He will return and complete His work of salvation. We live in the “in-between”—Jesus has saved us, but we are still waiting for everything to be made right. When we take communion, we proclaim His death until He comes. It is a meal of remembrance, but it is also a meal of hope.
We Are Still Part of the Story
Communion is not only about remembering something Jesus did in the past. When we take communion together, we recognize that God is still at work among His people. We participate in the ongoing story of His salvation, and we do it together—not alone. Our relationship with God is alive, and He continues to work in us and through us as His people.
You Are Invited Into Relationship
The final cup of the Passover meal pointed toward God’s desire to restore His relationship with His people. Jesus gives the cup new meaning when He calls it the new covenant in His blood. His death does more than forgive our sins; it makes relationship with God possible. We are not simply people who have been rescued from punishment. Through Jesus, we are invited into a restored relationship with God.
Salvation Came at a Cost
The Passover meal reminded Israel that their rescue came through sacrifice. The lamb was sacrificed, the bread reminded them of affliction, and the meal told the story of a costly rescue. Jesus takes this story and places Himself at the center of it. He becomes the One who bears our affliction and gives His body for our freedom. Communion reminds us that our salvation was not cheap—it was purchased through the sacrificial love of Jesus.
Remember What God Has Done
God gave Israel the Passover meal as a way to continually remember how He rescued them from slavery. They were not simply told to think about their salvation; they were given a meal that engaged their whole selves. Every year, they would eat, remember, and retell the story of what God had done. Communion carries this same purpose for us. It brings the story of Jesus’ sacrifice into our hands and minds so that we don’t forget what He has done to save us.
Ready for the Moment
The disciples’ boldness wasn’t a one-time experience. They developed a new rhythm of obedience, responsiveness, and dependence on the Holy Spirit. In Acts 3, Peter and John were ready when an unexpected opportunity came, and in Acts 4, after being threatened, they gathered with their friends and prayed for greater boldness. The Holy Spirit continued to fill them and empower them to speak about Jesus with courage.
The Spirit Changes Us
Peter was not the same man who had denied Jesus just weeks earlier. The Holy Spirit gave him power and clarity, transforming his fear into confidence as he stood before thousands and proclaimed Jesus. Peter didn’t become bold because he suddenly became naturally fearless. He became bold because he was empowered by the Holy Spirit and found himself in the place God had called him to be.
Take the Next Step
The disciples waited, but when the Holy Spirit finally came, Peter and the others began to obey. The Holy Spirit moves through us in ways we could never accomplish on our own. We may not feel ready or sufficient, but we can take the next step knowing that where we lack, God can fill the gaps.
Wait for His Power
Jesus gave His disciples a seemingly impossible assignment, but He didn’t ask them to accomplish it in their own strength. He told them to wait for the promise of the Father and the coming power of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes our greatest act of faith is not doing more but learning to wait for God to empower what He has called us to do. We don’t have to manufacture the power to follow Jesus because He provides what we need.
Say Yes Before You Know
Peter had no idea what following Jesus would look like after the resurrection. He had failed Jesus, been restored by Him, and was now simply told, “Follow me.” Jesus didn’t give Peter a complete plan for his future. He gave him an invitation to trust and obey. Following Jesus often means saying yes before we know exactly where that yes will lead.
Nothing Can Separate Us
Paul ends this passage with one of the strongest declarations of hope in Scripture: nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Trouble, suffering, danger, loss, uncertainty, and even death do not have the final word. God is for us, Jesus has given Himself for us, and the Holy Spirit is with us. We may walk through difficult seasons, but we never walk through them separated from the love of God.
God Is Working for Good
Romans 8:28 reminds us that God is able to work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. This doesn’t mean everything that happens to us is good. Some things are painful, broken, and deeply unfair. But God is not finished with our stories. He can take what is difficult and work through it toward His greater purpose—ultimately conforming us to the image of Jesus.
God Knows Where We Are
One of the most comforting truths about God is that He knows us completely. He knows where we are emotionally, mentally, spiritually, physically, and relationally. Nothing about our current situation is hidden from Him. And the Holy Spirit doesn’t pray for some generic version of us—He knows exactly where we are and knows exactly where God is leading us. We can trust Him because He knows us perfectly and knows what is ultimately best for us.
When We Don’t Know What to Pray
Sometimes our pain is so deep that we don’t even know how to put it into words. We may feel overwhelmed, confused, or simply exhausted. Paul gives us an incredible picture of the Holy Spirit meeting us in those moments. When we are weak and don’t know what to pray, the Spirit helps us and intercedes for us according to God’s will. We don’t have to find the perfect words because the Holy Spirit already knows exactly what we need.
When Life Hurts
Suffering is a reality of following Jesus. Paul doesn’t minimize our pain or pretend that difficult seasons aren’t difficult. Instead, he reminds us that our present suffering is not the end of the story. God has promised a future glory where sin, brokenness, and death will be fully overcome. Our hope isn’t simply that we can survive what we’re facing today. Our hope is that God is making all things new.
Let Peace Guard You
God repeatedly reminds His people that they do not need to fear because He is with them, strengthens them, and helps them. Peace does not mean that we will never have difficult circumstances or anxious thoughts. It means we have learned where to turn when those things come. As we choose to trust God, surrender what we cannot control, and remember His presence, we can experience a peace that is stronger than our circumstances. We may not know how the story will unfold, but we can know who is with us as it unfolds.
Jesus Is in the Boat
The disciples’ fear in the middle of the storm made sense based on their experience—they were fishermen who knew how dangerous storms could be. But they had forgotten to account for the most important difference: Jesus was in the boat with them. We can do the same thing when anxiety takes over; we can focus so completely on the storm that we forget who is with us in it. Jesus may calm the storm, or He may allow us to walk through it, but His presence means we do not have to face it alone.