Nothing is more convincing than a dead person brought to life. God brings Jesus to life to demonstrate His power over death, and now He extends this power through His servant Peter. The same message, the same power, and the same God.
It seems only right that a former skeptic must now convince other skeptics. He is therefore not surprised by their resistance. But the power that changes him calls him to stay engaged in the mission.
Some people can become strongly but wrongly convinced. Jesus meets a confirmed enemy on the road to Damascus and powerfully convinces him to change his ways.
Sometimes truth can speak more powerfully than miracles, especially for those genuinely seeking truth. God sets up a divine appointment for Philip to respond to a seeker’s questions.
Simon had seen power before. He pretended to be an expert, until a new power comes to town. By meeting Philip, Simon meets Jesus, and his world could never be the same.
Running for his life, David seeks refuge in a holy place, asks for holy bread, and lies to a priest in the process. By most standards, he has broken a lot of rules, but does this really matter?
Allies are sometimes found among enemies. Strangers and can become close friends and family who fight together for the good that God desires. In the friendship between Jonathan and David, we find a pathway toward finding allies in a relationship-challenged world.
Relationships are tricky, especially in a world driven by power and wealth. David must face this new challenging world as he learns God’s plan for his life. We can learn from his example as we navigate our own power and wealth-dominated culture.
There are always bigger giants and bigger enemies in the land, and they can inspire fear or courage, depending on one’s point of view. In David’s view, a giant enemy has only one purpose, to bring glory to an even bigger God.
Powerful people can have powerful demons. When evil tormentors possessed Saul, David’s spirit was his only comfort. What was David’s secret, and how can we use it to help the tormented souls in our world?