Saturday 29, August 2026

Most of us who frequently read these daily reflections do not have to worry about religious persecution. Some Christians, however, face persecution regularly, and they continue to follow Christ. If faced with persecution, would we still live boldly for Christ? It’s something to carefully consider as we reflect on Today’s Holy Nougat

Acts of the Apostles 5:42 CEB

[42] Every day they continued to teach and proclaim the good news that Jesus is the Christ, both in the temple and in houses.

Obedience under Threat

The disciples had truly come of age. They were no longer the men who dispersed to save their lives at Y’shua’s trial. Understanding that the Gospel of Christ offers power unto salvation, the disciples walked into the mantle of apostleship. He was not with them anymore. They had multiple opportunities to walk away from Christ’s teaching. Still, they remained faithful, at the expense of their health and safety. They had come of age.

Self-Check

If we applied these criteria to our lives, have we come of age spiritually?

Application

The Nougat is clear. These disciples of Jesus were walking obediently and boldly into all Jesus taught. They were also beginning to fulfill Y’shua’s prophetic commissioning over their lives. Whether we apply the Great Commission to their actions (see Matthew 28:18-20) or Y’shua’s last words in Acts 1:8 that they would be witnesses to Christ, the disciples were on point.

• They all acknowledged Y’shua’s power as ultimate authority.

• They were teaching ‘all nations’ about that power.

• They were baptising others into this new faith.

• They were teaching what they had been taught as commanded by Y’shua.

• They were bearing witness to Christ.

• They were beginning to move beyond Jerusalem – but that’s another story.

If we believe for a moment that the Great Commission and the Sending apply solely to the disciples in that era, then we can’t have read of Paul and the other apostles in the Bible. The fact is, as with Abram, whose blessing was a blueprint for others to receive and replicate, so it is with the call to service. We must do likewise.

On accepting Christ, our faith action doesn’t end there. We must reverse the actions of our past with our proclamation of Christ in the present. That criminal on the cross preached a sermon beyond his death (see Luke 23:39-43), reversing his past sins. The story of his fast track to paradise remains a critical part of the Gospel story and encourages us. If God used that criminal’s story to uplift others, we know that God can be revealed through our lives too.

What has Christ called us to do today that has us grappling with fear? Let’s do it in His power. Since He called us to be witnesses, we trust Y’shua to equip us (see Hebrews 13:20-21 and Philippians 2:13). For Christ is faithful in keeping promises and fulfilling prophecies. Let’s go forth in faith.

Point to Ponder

Our Nougat says that the apostles preached in the temple as well as in homes. We are not restricted to sharing the love of Jesus in formal spaces. Equipped in His power, led by God’s Spirit, we too can share Christ. Will we?

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May all we seek be found in Christ