Scripture to Meditate on This Week

This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:11-12

The point being made here is obvious. The only means of rescue from the broken mess of this world is Jesus. That is basic Gospel. What might be missed is the context in which this declaration is made and who is making it.

The speaker is Peter. This is the same Peter who three times denied that he knew anything about Jesus. And he spoke those words of denial not to someone who had the power of life and death. Peter was being confronted by servant girls.

The audience to whom Peter was now declaring this basic Gospel truth was the leadership of Israel. This is the same group of people who condemned Jesus to death.

Something has changed. Peter the cowardly has become Peter the bold. And even the threat of death, which those men most certainly wielded, could not silence Peter now. Yes, something has changed. Peter has become more useful for Jesus' kingdom than he had ever imagined.

If the Spirit could change Peter, dealing with what was sinful in him, is there any reason to doubt that He can do the same in us?