On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.’ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Devotion based on Acts 4:23-31

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A new president was sworn into office. Every time there is a leadership change, it reminds us to have confidence in God’s loving control rather than human leaders.

In today’s bible reading, Peter and John had just been released from prison. They were arrested for telling people in Jerusalem that when they crucified Jesus a few months earlier, they did the most evil thing of all: they put the innocent Son of God to death, but God still raised him from the dead. The leaders of Jerusalem knew they didn’t have a reason to keep Peter and John in prison, so they let them go. Imagine having your pastor or church elders arrested by the government for telling people about Jesus! Would you be upset at those human leaders and want to tell everyone how awful they were?

Peter and John didn’t. Instead, they prayed. In their prayer they recognized that what the leaders had done was sinful and wrong, but they also remembered that God was in control. He used their sinful actions to bring about God’s plan of salvation. They had murdered Jesus, but God used that act of hate and murder to bring forgiveness and salvation to the world. Peter and John didn’t ask God for boldness to speak up against the evil government. They asked for boldness to tell people about God’s love.

We should always ask for that, too because we know who’s watching over the whole world. No matter how much human rulers fail or sin, God will continue to use them to work out his saving plans. So let’s pray. Let’s pray for our leaders, that they do what’s good and right. Let’s pray for the nation we call home, that God would bless us and give us peace. And more than anything, let’s pray that God opens our lips to speak boldly about Jesus’ love.

Dear Jesus, even though you came in humility, you are the King of kings. We ask that you graciously bless our president and guide and keep our nation during these next four years. Grant us peace and respect and use our government to safeguard our freedoms. And help us to use our freedoms to speak boldly to all people about the salvation you won for us. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above