Weekly Devotional - David Guzik | Enduring Word

David Guzik’s weekly devotional, based on a verse or two from the Bible.

No Other Name

March 28, 2021/0 Comments/in Weekly Devotional/by David Guzik

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

Here was bold preaching from Peter. He spoke to the most powerful men of his community and told them that Jesus Christ was the only way to salvation, the only way to be made right with God.

This shows what a remarkable transformation the Holy Spirit did in Peter. The same man who only a few weeks before was afraid to say that he even knew Jesus now proclaimed Jesus Christ as the only way to be made right with God. As he was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:8), Peter did not have the spirit of fear – he had the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7).

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Peter phrased this with great emphasis:
– There is no salvation in any other name than Jesus (Nor is there salvation in any other)
– There is absolutely no other name that can save (for there is no other name under heaven given among men)
– This is a “must” for salvation, being made right with God (by which we must be saved)

Peter didn’t merely proclaim Jesus as a way of salvation, but as the only way of salvation. The idea that there is no salvation in any other, and that there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved is hard to accept for many people – but it is plainly stated.

The world hates this kind of talk. Many people don’t mind if you speak about Jesus being one among many possible saviors or ways to God. But if you believe and speak what the Bible says – that there is no salvation in any other – then get ready to be laughed at, to be hated, to be considered hateful.

Instinctively, many respond: “Isn’t there some way that I can save myself? Isn’t Jesus just for those people who can’t save themselves?” No. If you are going to be rescued; if you are going to be made right with God, Jesus is going to do it.

Such a strong statement from Peter also shows that he understood that Jesus was in fact God. The Old Testament clearly says that God is the only Savior (Isaiah 43:11, 45:21). If Jesus is the only savior, then Jesus is God!

If you wish to believe that everyone will be saved, or that there are many roads to heaven, or that one can take the best of all faiths and blend them into one – you are free to believe such things. You may believe such things and bear the consequences; but please do not claim this is the teaching of the Bible.

Today, remember what the Bible says about the name of Jesus: there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Click here to read David’s commentary on Acts 4

The Chief Cornerstone

March 21, 2021/0 Comments/in Weekly Devotional/by David Guzik

Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the “stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.” (Acts 4:10-11)

Peter preached to the religious leaders of Jerusalem, boldly telling them of Jesus Christ. As he did, he took words from Psalm 118:22 and applied them to Jesus. Peter told them that though Jesus was rejected by men – by those leaders – nevertheless He was exalted by God the Father.

This quotation from Psalm 118:22 has a special place in the Bible. It is a strong and important statement in the New Testament understanding of the person and work of Jesus. Jesus quoted this of Himself in Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10-11, and Luke 20:17. Peter quoted it here in Acts 4:11. Paul alluded to this verse in Ephesians 2:20, and Peter again referred to it in 1 Peter 2:7-8. No text in the Old Testament is quoted more in the New Testament.

The principle of the rejected one becoming the chief of all is found in many Bible characters. It was true of Jacob, Joseph and David – each were rejected and then raised high. It was most certainly true of Jesus.

– They didn’t approve of His origin (John 7:52).
– They didn’t approve of His lack of formal education (John 7:15).
– They didn’t approve of His disregard for religious traditions (Luke 6:2).
– They didn’t approve of His choice of friends (Matthew 9:11).

Yet Jesus has become the chief cornerstone. We see that even though the religious leaders (the builders) of His day rejected Him, God established Jesus as the chief cornerstone of His great plan of the ages, that all things would be founded and fulfilled in Him.

Notice that this was God’s doing – God raised Him from the dead. The exaltation of Jesus from the cross to the resurrection to the right hand of God on high is the work of God alone. Who lifted Jesus high again, exalting Him above all?

– Not the religious leaders – they rejected Him.
– Not the Roman leaders – they crucified Him.
– Not the Jewish multitudes – they chose another.
– Not the disciples – they cowered in fear.
– Not His influential followers – they buried Him.
– Not the devoted women – they were beset by grief.
– Only God the Father Himself could lift Jesus high.

And He did – God the Father lifted Jesus High when God raised Him from the dead. We can’t lift Jesus any higher than the Father has, but we can recognize the exalted Jesus and honor Him as He deserves.

A cornerstone is something to build upon. All the work of God across creation is built upon Jesus Christ. He is the strong, unshakable foundation for your life. Whatever you build today, build on Jesus Christ – the chief cornerstone.

Click here to read David’s commentary on Acts 4

Filled with the Holy Spirit

March 15, 2021/0 Comments/in Weekly Devotional/by David Guzik

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel” (Acts 4:8)

Peter was in trouble again, and in a stressful situation. He stood before important and powerful men, and it was possible that they could condemn him to death.

At that critical moment, it tells is that Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter was instantly filled with the Spirit again. The result of this filling with the Holy Spirit was seen in his supernatural boldness and ability to speak the gospel clearly and to the heart in a really stressful and dangerous moment.

But wait – wasn’t Peter filled with the Holy Spirit before?

Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit in John 20:22, when he was among the disciples when Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:4, when he was among the disciples who were “all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

When Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 4:8 it wasn’t the first time, and it wasn’t the last time. The filling of the Holy Spirit Peter experienced in John 20:22 and Acts 2:4 was not a one-time event. It was something God wanted to continue doing in his life.

The filling of the Holy Spirit is not a one-time event that we live off of the rest of our days. It is a constant filling, a continual asking to be filled, and repeated receiving the Spirit’s filling by faith.

There is a wonderful and significant first experience with the filling of the Holy Spirit, often thought of as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11, Acts 1:5 and 11:16). This is an experience valid and important for every believer.

Much of the weakness, defeat and lethargy in our spiritual life can be attributed to the fact that we are not constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit.

In Ephesians 5:18 the Apostle Paul wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, telling us to “be filled with the Holy Spirit.” The grammar of the ancient Greek for the phrase Paul used indicates at least two important things. First, the verb “be filled” is passive, so this is not a manufactured experience. We must never “manufacture” or “fake” some experience with the Holy Spirit. That doesn’t glorify God or bring true help to people, including ourselves.

Second, in Ephesians 5:18 the verb “be filled” is imperative, so this is not an optional experience – it is a command! We should never think of this as if some Christians are “better” or others are “worse” because of what they have or have not experienced with the Holy Spirit. We should simply often come to God and ask Him to fill us with the Holy Spirit.

Peter was often filled with the Holy Spirit. Is this also true of you?

Click here to read David’s commentary on Acts 4

The Right Thing in the Wrong Way

March 7, 2021/0 Comments/in Weekly Devotional/by David Guzik

And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” (Acts 4:5-7)

Only a few times in my life have I stood before a judge or before angry people in authority. I have been in court for a few traffic tickets once for small-claims court, but nothing too stressful. It’s hard for me to imagine what Peter and John felt at this moment.

The air was filled with stress and tension when they stood before all kinds of officials and authorities: rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and many from the family of the high priest. Just two humble disciples of Jesus on accused and examined before all these important people!

In 1521, when Martin Luther defended his teachings at the Diet of Worms he stood before some intimidating people: Charles V, the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. There were also 24 dukes; 30 archbishops, bishops, and abbots; 7 ambassadors and papal nuncios. In all there were 206 persons of rank sitting in judgment of Martin Luther. Imagine being judged by so many important people!

In Acts 4, the important men asked Peter and John: By what power or by what name have you done this?It was as if they said, “This miracle is clearly beyond your power – so who was really responsible for this?”

We can say that in itself, this was a perfectly legitimate question to ask. Together, these important men were the guardians of the Jewish faith. It was natural and appropriate for them to be concerned about what was taught on the temple mount. If someone was spreading dangerous lies or deception, it was their job to stop them.

The problem was not with their investigation, but with how they did it. They did it with intimidation and threats instead of an honest search for truth. No one is beyond accountability, and it was not wrong to call Peter and John to account for all the uproar on the temple mount. But how you call someone to account makes a big difference.

These important men also were wrong regarding what they did with the results of their investigation as the rest of Acts 4 will show.

Maybe this week you will be responsible for investigating something or calling someone to account. If so, the do it – but take care to do it in the right way, without dishonest intimidation tactics and lack of concern for the truth.

Maybe this week you will be investigated by someone else or called to account. If so, they keep your eyes on Jesus and answer truthfully and boldly – just like Peter and John did.

Click here to read David’s commentary on Acts 4

Unafraid, Unstoppable

February 28, 2021/0 Comments/in Weekly Devotional/by David Guzik

And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. (Acts 4:3-4)

The religious leaders in Jerusalem were angry. Peter, John, and the other apostles and disciples wouldn’t stop telling the good news of Jesus the Messiah. They talked about who Jesus was and what He did for us, especially in taking our sins on the cross and in His resurrection.

The apostles and disciples wouldn’t stop, so the religious leaders tried to make them stop. The temple police came together with the priests and the establishment leaders (the Sadducees) to suddenly arrest Peter and John.

After the arrest, they put them into custody until the next day. Normally, this would be an intimidating experience for Peter and John – or for anyone! They were suddenly arrested by angry officials. They were handled roughly (laid hands on them), and threatened (Acts 4:21 implies this). Finally, they were thrown into jail. The entire atmosphere was intended to make them afraid.

Acts 4:21 even mentions further threats. If there were further threats, there must have been earlier threats. They must have said things like, “If you keep preaching, we will arrest you and beat you.” “If you keep preaching, we will harm your family.” “Remember what we did to Jesus.”

By all outward measures, Christianity – the movement of the followers of Jesus – was very weak at this early point.

– They were few in numbers.
– They were inexperienced in leadership.
– They were commanded to not fight back; they were not militant.
– They were opposed by institutions that had existed for hundreds of years.

Look at all who were against these followers of Jesus in Acts 4. There were the priests and the Sadducees (Acts 4:1); there were rulers, elders, and scribes (Acts 4:5); there were others from the family of the high priest (Acts 4:6). There were also individuals such as the captain of the temple (Acts 4:1), Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander (mentioned in Acts 4:6).

It was a frightening, intimidating situation. Maybe Christianity would be crushed at the very beginning.

It didn’t work out that way. Instead, the number of the men came to be about five thousand: Despite the opposition coming against Christians and the gospel of Jesus they preached, the number of Christians kept increasing, growing to 5,000 from 3,000 at last count (Acts 2:41). Opposition did not slow the church down at all. The power plays, threats, and intimidation didn’t work. More people started following Jesus, not less.

When we feel that Christian freedoms are attacked, we should do every God-honoring thing we can to protect those freedoms. Yet, we should never do it from a spirit of fear. God’s church can and will flourish no matter what the gates of hell bring against us. You can be unafraid because you have an unstoppable Savior.

Click here to read David’s commentary on Acts 4

Fair Warning

February 21, 2021/0 Comments/in Weekly Devotional/by David Guzik

For Moses truly said to the fathers, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:22-23)

An excited crowd gathered on the temple mount in Jerusalem, because a familiar beggar was miraculously healed of his paralyzed legs. As the formerly lame man walked, jumped, and praised God, the people ran to see the reason for the excitement. Peter took this opportunity to preach to the crowd, and his sermon had so many remarkable parts:

Peter got their attention: Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? (Acts 3:12)
Peter gave the glory to God: Why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? (Acts 3:12)
Peter preached Jesus: His Servant Jesus (Acts 3:13)
Peter spoke to them of their sin: whom you delivered up and denied (Acts 3:13)
Peter preached Christ crucified: and killed the Prince of Life (Acts 3:14)
Peter preached the resurrection: whom God raised from the dead (Acts 3:15)
Peter preached the continuing work of Jesus: His name…has made this man strong (Acts 3:16)
Peter preached the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy in Jesus: those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer (Acts 3:18)
Peter preached repentance: Repent therefore and be converted (Acts 3:19)

After all that, Peter then pointed to a specific prophecy, spoken by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15 and 18:18-19. The prophecy was that God would send a Prophet like Moses – and if they did not hear that Prophet, they would be utterly destroyed from among the people.

It was important for them to hear that the Prophet predicted by Moses was in fact the Messiah, fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Some in that day thought that it might be someone different from the Messiah, but Peter made it clear that they are one and the same.

Peter also gave them the strong warning: every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed. I suppose that some people would accuse Peter of being a “hellfire and damnation” preacher. Peter told them, “If you reject the Messiah Jesus, the Prophet Moses predicted, there is no eternal hope for you, you shall be utterly destroyed.”

In one sense, this was fulfilled in less than 40 years when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. But these inspired words from Peter did not primarily concern building or cities, but every soul.

It is an unpopular and sobering thought but love for every soul compels us to say it: all who reject Jesus, who will not hear Him, will be destroyed, and utterly so. Peter loved his hearers enough to give fair warning of an unpleasant truth. May God give us the same love and boldness.

Click here to read David’s commentary on Acts 3

Times of Refreshing

February 14, 2021/0 Comments/in Weekly Devotional/by David Guzik

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before (Acts 3:19-20)

As he did in his first sermon (Acts 2:38), Peter called upon his hearers to repent. He told them to turn aroundin their thinking and actions. In the previous verses Peter spoke directly to them about their sin, but he didn’t just want to make them feel bad. That wasn’t his goal. The goal was to encourage them to repent and believe.

It’s good to remember that repentance does not describe being sorry, but describes the act of turning around. And as he used it before in Acts 2, here also Peter made repent a word of hope. He told them that they had done wrong; but that they could turn it around and become right with God.

It wasn’t only a call to repent, but also to be converted: Peter knew the necessity of conversion, of God’s work of bringing new life to us. Being a Christian is not “turning over a new leaf,” it is being a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17).

One writer says that be converted is better translated, “turn to God” – or, even better, “flee to God.” This connects with the image of the cities of refuge in the Old Testament – we run to Jesus as our place of refuge.

Peter went on to describe two benefits of repentance and conversion. First, that your sins may be blotted out: This was the first benefit of repentance Peter presented to them. The one who repents and is converted is forgiven their sins, and the record itself is erased.

Those sins are blotted out. This has the idea of wiping ink off of a document. Ink in the ancient world had no acid content and didn’t “bite” into the paper. It could almost always be wiped off with a damp cloth. Peter said that God would wipe away our record of sin just like that.

The second benefit of repenting and turning to God was so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. In speaking of “times of refreshing,” Peter referred to the time when Jesus will return and rule in righteousness. The ultimate times of refreshing will be fulfilled when Jesus Christ returns in glory. In a lesser (though glorious) sense, God sends times of refreshing to His people today. We should pray for and believe God for seasons of revival and refreshing.

Every sensible person wants their sins to be blotted out. Every weary person wants God to send times of refreshing that may come from the presence of the Lord. If you have repented and been converted, ask God for the true experiential possession of these, in confidence that this is your birthright as one of God’s children. You can talk to God about this today.

Click here to read David’s commentary on Acts 3

In Jesus’ Name

February 7, 2021/0 Comments/in Weekly Devotional/by David Guzik

And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. (Acts 3:16)

As Peter preached to the excited crowd, he felt that he had to explain to them how the man was actually healed. After all, here was a man who was probably a well-known beggar at the temple courts. We don’t know if he was well-liked, but after begging in the same place for many years, he was probably well-known. When the one who could not walk was now walking, leaping, and praising God (Acts 3:8), it demanded an explanation.

Peter told them how the man was healed – in the name of Jesus: His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong. Peter said that it was in the name of Jesus that this man has been made whole. Jesus was the reason he could walk, jump, and praise God.

To say, through faith in His name means more than that Peter said the words, “in Jesus’ name.” Many people have the custom of ending their prayer with the words, “in Jesus’ name.” This is based on the promise Jesus made recorded in John 14:13-14: And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

But to do something “in Jesus’ name” means far more than to say those words at the end of our prayer. For Peter, it meant that he consciously did this (Acts 3:1-7) in the authority and power of Jesus, not in the authority and power of Peter. In fact, Peter would not even take credit for the faith that was exercised in the healing (yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness).

In Biblical thinking, a name isn’t just something that you call someone. The name can express a person’s nature or character. There is a sense in which the power of a person is present in their name, and their character is available in the name of the person.

Peter insisted that this amazing miracle was done through faith in His name. This should be a pattern for us in our life for God. When we, as God’s people, really do good in this world, we should do it through faith in His name. We are always tempted to do things trusting in something or someone else.

– We often trust in good intentions.
– We often trust in talents and gifts.
– We often trust in material resources.
– We often trust in reputation and prior success.
– We often trust in hard work or smart work.

Instead, we must always trust in and do good through faith in His name.

Today, make a choice: to live in do good in Jesus’ name, not your own.

Click here to read David’s commentary on Acts 3

The Prince of Life

January 31, 2021/0 Comments/in Weekly Devotional/by David Guzik

But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. (Acts 3:14-15)

We see many remarkable things in these two verses from Peter’s sermon to the excited crowd at the temple courts.

We see that Peter recognized Jesus as God. When Peter referred to Jesus as the Holy One, it was way for Peter to exalt Jesus as God. The term Holy One is used more than 40 times in the Old Testament as a high and glorious title for Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel.

We see that Peter boldly told his hearers of their sin. Peter told them that they rejected Jesus but asked for a murderer to be granted to you. One of the ironies of the crucifixion of Jesus is that while the crowd rejected Jesus, they embraced a criminal and a murderer named Barabbas (Luke 23:13-25, John 18:39-40). Peter boldly confronted this audience.

We see that Peter made his preaching personal. In this sermon at the temple courts (Acts 3:12-26), he used the word you or your at least 11 times. He wanted his message to hit home in a personal way and wasn’t afraid to make his appeal directly to everyone.

We see that Peter knew Jesus was the Prince of life. What a wonderful title for our Savior! Only does Jesus received this glorious title. It means that Jesus Himself is the authority, the ruler, over all life.

It is a wonderful truth for us to proclaim – Jesus Christ is the Prince of Life. This is true because Jesus has life like no one else; no one could take His life from Him – He had to give up His life (John 10:17-18). This is true because Jesus won life for His people on their behalf – He didn’t just win life for Himself, but for His people. This is true because Jesus gives life abundantly – the Prince of Life can give life. This is true because Jesus sustains our life, and He rules over life. In every sense, Jesus is the Prince of Life!

Consider the hard truth that Peter confronted his listeners with: they killed the Prince of Life. In one aspect, this is an outrage – killing the One who is the author and ruler of life itself. On the other hand, it is an impossibility, because what can death possibly do to the Prince of Life? He who rules over life can never be harmed by death. Man’s attempt to kill Jesus was both an outrageous sin and a fooling impossibility, because Jesus is the One whom God raised from the dead.

Of course, the Prince of life could not remain in the grave, and the apostles were united witnesses of the fact of His resurrection.

The witnesses prove the fact – Jesus is the Prince of Life. Is He the ruler and monarch over your life?

Click here to read David’s commentary on Acts 3

His Servant Jesus

January 24, 2021/0 Comments/in Weekly Devotional/by David Guzik

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. (Acts 3:13)

As Peter preached to the excited crowd, He began by connecting two thoughts. First, he spoke of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In this, Peter clearly spoke to them about the God of Israel, described in the Hebrew Scriptures. Then, Peter connected a second idea: This same God had a wonderful Messiah, whom Peter called His Servant Jesus.

– We admire the focus Peter had on Jesus. The greatness of Peter’s sermon is that it was all about Jesus – not on Peter nor on anything he did, but all about Jesus.

– We admire that Peter called Jesus by a glorious title: the Servant of the Lord. The first thing Peter said about Jesus in this sermon drew attention to the idea that Jesus was the perfect Servant of the Lord, the One spoken of in familiar passages such as Isaiah 42 and 52:13-53:12.

– We admire this wonderful title of Jesus: Servant.

Jesus, truly God and truly man, is a person of infinite wonder and glory. John 21:25 tells us that If someone set out to write all His works of goodness and power, the world couldn’t contain the books! With so much good to say about Jesus, if you had to start your description with one word, what would it be? Here in Acts 3, Peter chose the word Servant.

Jesus served in His life and He served in His death. Jesus said in Mark 10:45, even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Peter boldly set the guilt of Jesus’ death where it belonged. Pilate, the Roman governor, was determined to let Him go, but the Jewish mob insisted on Jesus’ crucifixion (as in John 18:29-19:16).

This does not mean that the Jewish people of that day alone were responsible for the death of Jesus. The Romans – Gentiles – were also responsible. The Romans would not have crucified Jesus without pressure from the Jewish leaders, and the Jews could not have crucified Jesus without Roman partnership. God made certain that both Jew and Gentile shared in the guilt of Jesus’ death. Truly, it was not political intrigue or circumstances that put Jesus on the cross; it was our sin. If you want to know who put Jesus on the cross, look at me – or look at yourself in the mirror.

Notice the contrast. In God’s estimation Jesus is the exalted Servant, promised centuries before in the Hebrew Scriptures. In man’s estimation Jesus was only worthy to be delivered up and denied, tortured and crucified.

How do you esteem Jesus? Today, see Him as God’s glorious Servant – the one who serves humanity by laying down His life, and receive the service of His Servant today!

Click here to read David’s commentary on Acts 3