May 6 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Luke's first book is known to us as the Gospel of Luke. According to his own words, this first volume of Luke's writings is a record of what Jesus "began to do and to teach." Thereby Luke implies that his second book continues the story of what Jesus did and taught after he was "taken up into heaven."

The first book dealt with Jesus' earthly ministry. This ministry began in a manger and it closed with the ascension. The second book deals with Jesus' heavenly ministry. This heavenly ministry began with the ascension, and it is still going on today as you read these words. That's why Luke's second book (Acts) begins with a more detailed account of the ascension as it describes the unfinished heavenly ministry of Jesus.

Some Christians seem to think that only the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) contain the acts and teachings of Jesus. Perhaps the so-called "red letter" editions of the New Testament have strengthened that notion. It would be a grave error, however, to think that Jesus speaks only in the gospels, while the book of Acts and the epistles tell us what Peter, Paul, and John were doing and teaching. Such an idea would show that we do not understand the relationship between the earthly and heavenly activities of Jesus Christ.

It is the claim of the New Testament that Jesus, after he had completed his earthly ministry, ascended to the throne of the world. From there he continues his work of redemption. The way he continues his work is different from the way he acted during his earthly ministry. But it is Christ himself who continues to work and teach. The works and words of the risen Lord are revealed to us in the part of our Bible that follows the gospels.

First we must know who the Lord is—what he did and what he does. Then we can understand what the Bible is and what the church is.

REFLECTION

Have you thought of the books of Acts as being about Jesus? What difference might this make for your reading of this book?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.