Daily Dose of Hope from New Hope

Daily Dose of Hope December 22, 2025 Scripture - Acts 21:27-40 Prayer: Dear God, We come to you today with sorrow. We know that we are sinful and broken. We know that we have fallen short. We have been disobedient as individuals and as a church. Lord, please forgive us and show us your better way. How we need you. We are lost without you and our behavior so often speaks to that. Help us seek holiness. Help us love others the way you love them. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, please help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you... In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading. We have been on a journey, reading through the Gospels and the book of Acts. Today, we finish with Acts 21. It doesn't take long before people see Paul and get worked up. Some Asian Jews, who saw Paul at the Temple, accuse him of bringing a Greek in the Temple (not true) and teaching people to not follow the law (again not true). Who were these Asian Jews? They were most likely from the province of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and quite possibly from Ephesus. They could very well have remembered Paul from his extended stay in Ephesus and the various conflicts that arose. It doesn't take long for a few rabble rousers to work up a riot. Paul finds himself in the middle of it, being beaten by a mob. When the Roman soldiers hear about the riot, they rush to figure out what's going on. What's interesting is that they also make assumptions about Paul and have been bound, to be thrown in the barracks. It seems no one really cares much for finding the truth. The main charge brought against Paul was that he brought a Gentile into the Temple. This would be a serious offense. The Jews did not allow women or Gentiles into the central courts of the Temple, believing them to be unclean. Although the Law did not specifically forbid Gentiles from going into the Temple courts, by the first century, Herod the Great had expanded the Temple courts so that there was a large area where everyone was welcome, the Court of the Gentiles. Despite the fact that the charge is false, no one comes to Paul's defense. None of the Jewish believers, who must have seen the whole thing, say a word. While this was out of fear, for sure, it is still surprising. Silence, as we know, always empowers wrongdoers. Let's talk about silence for a moment. There is good silence, like being silent before the Lord, and then there is bad silence, like not standing up for what is right. Bullies exist because the majority stays silent. Martin Luther King, Jr., famously said, "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends," emphasizing that friends' lack of support is deeply painful and is what enables injustice. Unfortunately, we have seen this over centuries in the church. We saw it with Jesus and the disciples. We see it in the early church. We saw it during the persecutions of the first several centuries and through many wars. How many Christians stood in fear and watched the Nazis murder millions of helpless Jews? How many Christians have been silent in the face of slavery, racism, and gross injustice across our own nation? What are the main forces of injustice in our world right now? Where has the church stood up and done the right thing and where have we been silent? What about you? More tomorrow. Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope December 19, 2025 Scripture - Acts 21:1-26 Prayer: Holy God, We sing your praises today... For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are getting close to finishing this reading plan after going through the Gospels and now the book of Acts. Today, we walk through the first portion of Acts 21. I have to admit, I've always struggled with this passage. Paul is being warned repeatedly by believers, those who have the gift of prophecy, that he should not go on to Jerusalem because it is dangerous for him. Paul has experienced persecution and danger, but what is waiting for him in Jerusalem could certainly be the worst yet. And yet, he insists upon going. Was he ignoring warnings from the Holy Spirit or simply determined to courageously carry out what God called him to do? Now, most of us will never, ever encounter the kind of resistance and persecution that Paul is experiencing. But how often have we felt the strong call of God in a particular area and then felt dissuaded by our Christians brothers and sisters to carry it out? So often, I think people react to our plans more out of fear for us and/or how our lives might be disrupted than from clear guidance from God. (There are certainly exceptions but I wonder how people's reactions might be different if we asked them to go home and pray about it specifically and diligently for a week.) Paul clearly felt God had called him to return to Jerusalem, minister to the Jews and Gentiles there, and face the authorities, so that God's Word could be preached to the powers that be no matter the consequences. The part of the chapter about Paul purifying himself with the four other men was kind of interesting and worth mentioning. Why did he do this? He wanted to show the other Jewish believers that, while the law was not necessary for salvation, he still wanted to honor Jewish traditions. Though these Jews had become Christians, they had not come to the realization that salvation through Jesus made the law of Moses inoperative as a redemptive system. Accordingly, these new Christians still circumcised their children (as a covenant sign), and they observed many of the "customs" of Mosaic law. There were plenty of Jews who were disparaging Paul, saying he didn't want anything to do with the Jewish law. Paul is still Jewish. He has never preached or taught that. Think about how Paul circumcised Timothy to show respect for the Jewish Christians in the churches for which they were working. But rumors happen and they can be hard to break. There were four Hebrew men who had placed themselves under a vow, probably a Nazarite vow. It was about time for their ritual to be concluded by a purification ceremony in the temple. It was suggested that Paul identify with them, paying their temple fees, and, "purifying" himself along with them. This would be done so that the Jews might see that Paul was being obedient to the law. We know that Gentiles, of course, were under no such constraints. Paul isn't required to do this but he is trying to calm tempers. Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope December 18, 2025 Scripture – Acts 20 Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, We are so grateful that your mercies are new every single morning. No matter what our week has been like, we can come to you today afresh and anew. Lord, forgive us for our many failings. We want to do better. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are getting close to finishing this reading plan after going through the Gospels and now the book of Acts. Today, we walk through Acts 20. We start with more of Paul's travels. He stops by a number of the churches to encourage them but also has to take a number of circuitous routes to avoid those who wished him harm. Paul relies so much on the Spirit here. He knows where to go and when to go, based on where God is leading him. At his stop in Troas, Paul spends a lot of time preaching. I mean, he basically preaches all day and night. One young man, Eutychus, nods off and then falls out of the third floor window and dies. Paul sees this happen and rushes outside, grabs him, and through the power of Jesus, brings him back from the dead. Then, Paul keeps on preaching. Does not miss a beat. Anyone who ever thinks I preach too long needs to read this passage. Towards the end of the chapter, Paul is leaving the elders at the church of Ephesus, people he has worked and preached alongside for quite some time. These are people he has grown to love and who love him dearly. They are brothers and sisters in Christ. They are family. And they know they will never see one another again in this earthly life. When I was traveling in Germany with my Doctorate cohort in 2018, I met a pretty extraordinary South African couple who dedicated their lives to witnessing to Syrian refugees in some of the most dangerous places on earth. Our little group shared, prayed, laughed, and cried with them. My own life journey is forever changed because of the one day I spent with them. I say all of that to make this point. As we left each other's company that day, we were sad because we knew that chances were we would never see each other again this side of heaven. But, we also rejoiced because we knew that we knew that we would spend eternity together. I think about this as I read about Paul leaving his dear friends. They know that life circumstances will never allow them to be together again in this world. But friends, we aren't simply citizens of earth, we are citizens of heaven! Our time apart is short compared to the eternity we will spend together in heaven. I try to remember this when I officiate a funeral of a loved brother or sister in Christ. Yes, it is very painful to say good-bye. We miss them. But if we know Jesus, then it isn't really good-bye. It's simply "See ya later! Until we meet again!" The pain and sadness are real. We must acknowledge that. But we can trust that God will turn our mourning into dancing. Thank you, Jesus. Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope December 17, 2025 Scripture – Acts 19 Prayer: Lord, We come to you today with humble hearts. As we venture towards Christmas, help us think less of ourselves and more about others. Help us focus more on you, and less on our own wants. It is our inclination to complain and whine. Forgive us, Lord. We need you. More of you and less of me. In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. We have been on a great journey of reading the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are covering Acts 19. Paul's extended time in Ephesus has obviously made a huge impact on the region. Many people are coming to know Jesus, miracles are happening, and people are no longer participating in the local idol worship. They aren't buying the trinkets! Interestingly, the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was considered, in its final form, to be one of the seven wonders of the world. It was extraordinary feat of how human beings can create beautiful idols to try to replace the one true God. If the worship of Artemis had been fulfilling and life-giving, then the Ephesian businessmen would have had nothing to worry about. But the worship of idols, two thousand years ago and today, always leaves one feeling empty and wanting. Paul preached the Word of God, taught about the salvation and abundant life that comes from walking with Jesus, and created a community of people who loved God and each other. That was attractive to people who were desperate for something more. I can't help but relate this same scenario to our society today. What/Who are our modern Temples of Artemis? Which idols have we sought after, leaving us feeling empty and wanting more from life? Just a reminder: Jesus is still in the business of transforming hearts and lives! Who in your life needs to know the abundant life that only comes from a living relationship with Jesus? Who needs to experience a community of Christians who will love and accept them as they are? Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope December 16, 2025 Scripture – Acts 18 Prayer: Dear Holy God, Your love is amazing. Thank you for the way you care for us. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, help us focus on you...Lord Jesus, help us set aside every distraction and take this time to lean on you. We want to hear your voice. Amen. Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. We are currently working our way through the book of Acts and today, we dive into Acts 18. Here, we read more about Paul's missionary journey. He heads to Corinth, where he almost throws in the towel when it came to preaching to the Jews. But God encourages him and we continue to see his pattern of heading to the synagogue first, debating with the Jews, and then bringing the message to the Gentiles. While I'm sure it was frustrating for Paul, he did see a lot of fruit. Jews and Gentiles alike from all walks of life are beginning to believe the Good News. Priscilla and Aquilla appear on the scene and they are a huge support to Paul, as Apollos will be as well. What I admire so much about Paul is how he traveled around frequently, built networks of believers (which become churches), and he seems almost fearless. He doesn't get too attached to any place, although he stays some places longer than others. And yet, he builds deep relationships. There had to be a lot of hard good-byes. Another thing I noticed in today's reading is Paul's ability to disciple people in the faith. He disciples Priscilla and Aquilla. He stops by all the different churches where he has built relationships, discipling them and encouraging them. His various pastoral letters, while they addressed specific problems, were definitely letters intended to disciple and mentor those working under him in the name of Jesus. He doesn't lead someone to Christ and then just leave them in that infancy stage. He truly does everything he can to build people up in the faith and help them grow. Discipling others is hugely important and I think it's something we don't do very well in the Western church. For so long, our emphasis was getting people to say yes to Jesus. While that is not a bad thing, Jesus teaches us in the Great Commission to go make disciples. Remember, a disciple is an apprentice, someone who is truly working to be like Jesus. This doesn't mean someone who has intellectual belief in Jesus but someone who is doing all they can to be like Jesus in thoughts and actions. What are some ways that we could do a better job discipling other Christians at New Hope? The bottom line was that Paul was totally and completely sold out for Jesus and he was willing to make any sacrifice to advance God's Kingdom. How many of us can say that? Wow. Blessings, Pastor Vicki