DAILY BREATH Read the set Bible passages each morning, and try to answer these 3 questions: Is there a phrase or thought or picture that stands out for you? What do you learn about God (or Jesus)? How will you apply any of this in your own life? Reflect on these questions from time to time during the day. For the New Testament, in weeks 19-22 of this 52-week cycle we’ll read extracts from the first part of the Acts of the Apostles. Week 19 Acts 1: 1-11 Monday Psalm 61 (Jesus is taken up into heaven) Acts 1: 12-26 Tuesday Psalm 62 (the successor to Judas is chosen) Acts 2: 1-13 Wednesday Psalm 63 (Pentecost) Acts 2: 14-21 Thursday Psalm 64 (Peter addresses the crowd) Acts 2: 22-23, 32-41 Friday Psalm 65 (the Holy Spirit for everyone) The readings are reproduced in full below using the Good News Bible for the Psalms and the New International Version for the Gospel. Monday Psalm 61 Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer! In despair and far from home I call to you! Take me to a safe refuge, for you are my protector, my strong defence against my enemies. Let me live in your sanctuary all my life; let me find safety under your wings. You have heard my promises, O God, and you have given me what belongs to those who honour you. Add many years to the king’s life; let him live on and on! May he rule forever in your presence, O God; protect him with your constant love and faithfulness. So I will always sing praises to you, as I offer you daily what I have promised. Acts 1: 1-11 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’ Then they gathered round him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’ _____________________________________________________ Tuesday Psalm 62 I wait patiently for God to save me; I depend on him alone. He alone protects and saves me; he is my defender, and I shall never be defeated. How much longer will all of you attack someone who is no stronger than a broken-down fence? You only want to bring him down from his place of honour; you take pleasure in lies. You speak words of blessing, but in your heart you curse him. I depend on God alone; I put my hope in him. He alone protects and saves me; he is my defender, and I shall never be defeated. My salvation and honour depend on God; he is my strong protector; he is my shelter. Trust in God at all times, my people. Tell him all your troubles, for he is our refuge. Human beings are all like a puff of breath; great and small alike are worthless. Put them on the scales, and they weigh nothing; they are lighter than a mere breath. Don't put your trust in violence; don’t hope to gain anything by robbery; even if your riches increase, don’t depend on them. More than once I have heard God say that power belongs to him and that his love is constant. You yourself, O Lord, reward everyone according to their deeds. Acts 1: 12-26 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, ‘Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.’ (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) ‘For,’ said Peter, ‘it is written in the Book of Psalms: “May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,” and, “May another take his place of leadership.” Therefore, it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.’ So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.’ Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. _____________________________________________________ Wednesday Psalm 63 O God, you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you; like a dry, worn-out, and waterless land, my soul is thirsty for you. Let me see you in the sanctuary; let me see how mighty and glorious you are. Your constant love is better than life itself, and so I will praise you. I will give you thanks as long as I live; I will raise my hands to you in prayer. My soul will feast and be satisfied, and I will sing glad songs of praise to you. As I lie in bed, I remember you; all night long I think of you, because you have always been my help. In the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. I cling to you, and your hand keeps me safe. Those who are trying to kill me will go down into the world of the dead. They will be killed in battle, and their bodies eaten by wolves. Because God gives him victory, the king will rejoice. Those who make promises in God’s name will praise him, but the mouths of liars will be shut. Acts 2: 1-13 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!’ Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’ Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.’ _____________________________________________________ Thursday Psalm 64 I am in trouble, God - listen to my prayer! I am afraid of my enemies - save my life! Protect me from the plots of the wicked, from mobs of evil people. They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like arrows.