God has created us with a longing to know that our presence in this world counts. He also designed us to find the fulfillment of that desire through His Son Jesus Christ. 

 Dependence on the Lord is central to an abundant life. Trusting Him with all our heart means giving Him control over our families, finances, jobs, and everything else. Today's passage emphasizes how essential trust is to a fruitful life: we are cautioned against being wise in our own eyes and warned twice not to lean on our own understanding (3:5, 7).When faced with decisions, it is tempting to gather information and choose the answer we think is right. However, we can't know all the facts or predict with certainty how others will respond. But our Father is omniscient. He "reads" our hearts and perceives every thought (1 Chronicles 28:9). No aspect of our life escapes His notice (Psalm 11:4), and He cares about everyone. That's why He alone is certain which decision will be best for our circumstances. 

The abundant life also involves acknowledging the Lord in all we do. Speaking about Him is just part of what it means to give Him recognition. As His children, we are to have a marked resemblance to our heavenly Father--in thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Our priorities are to reflect His, and our plans should fit with His purposes. 

 Life becomes fruitful as we surrender ourselves to God and carry out His will. By allowing His Spirit to live through us (Galatians 2:20), we will find our lives characterized by significance and satisfaction.

Acts 5:25-28 Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in thetemple courts teaching the people." At that, the captain went with his officers andbrought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the peoplewould stone them. Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before theSanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. "We gave you strict orders not toteach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching andare determined to make us guilty of this man's blood."

I am quite sure neither the Sanhedrin nor the chief priest, felt they were opposedto God in this confrontation with Peter and John. Rather, they were so focused ontheir own power and authority they could not see God's correcting hand in theexperience. We see this indignation in verse 28, "We gave you strict orders not toteach in this name."

So often we get locked into doing things our way (like the Sanhedrin), that when Godcorrects us through events (which many times are miraculous), we ignore the miraclebecause it doesn't fit with our expectation. We couldn't be wrong -- right? Whenthings seem to be going wrong -- people aren't following your direction, leadershipor example -- it's probably a good time to reevaluate how and what you're doing. Godmight be correcting you and He may be using a lowly person or people to do so. Ithink the most difficult correction for me to accept is, when God uses someone lesseducated, less experienced, or a new Christian. That's when I have to be especiallycareful that my "Sanhedrin" indignation and arrogance doesn't kick in.

Is God trying to correct you right now? Is there a way you are doing something,maybe even an attitude that needs to change? Has there been someone in your lifethat like the Sanhedrin has made you angry because they've challenged you? Perhapsit's time to reevaluate -- you couldn't be wrong, right?

Acts 5:20-21a"Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

Peter and John had been thrown in jail by the high priest and his associates, but an angel of the Lord had rescued them and said, "Go stand in the temple courts and tell people the full message of this new life." When we are given a God directive He is constantly at work with us and ahead of us cutting a path through the wilderness of the task He has given us. So much so, all we have to do is stay on that path for things to work out perfectly. Unfortunately, we have a tendency to get distracted and stray off course. Sometimes that's in the form of doing things our own way versus God's way, other times it's allowing other people or problems to distract us, and sometimes it's fear. The Apostles have given us a clear example of how to avoid straying off course -- do as you are told.

Verse 21 tells us how the apostles followed God's direction, "At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people." They didn't swing by Starbucks, drop off the dry cleaning on the way, or get the car washed. Instead "at daybreak" -- first thing in the morning -- they did what they were told. It was their number one priority and the only task on their "to do" list. Single minded focus. When was the last time you had single minded focus?

Our modern society has become scatter brained. It seems the goal is multi-tasking versus accomplishing any one thing. When was the last time you started the day with only one thing to do and the commitment to accomplish that one thing? We've forgotten the value of order and the meaning of obedience. Our God is an orderly God. I'll bet you collapse in bed every night like the rest of us, not at peace with what you've accomplished, but instead restless and unsettled because of all the half finished, uncompleted, or new things needing attention on your list that just have to get done no later than tomorrow. It's frustrating, tiring and completely unnecessary.

Stress is the sum total of a bunch of unresolved tasks. So the key to stress free living is completing tasks. The problem is differentiating between what is important and unimportant. The best place to start is with the Lord. Take time to read your Bible and pray. Ask the Lord, "What is the most important thing you want me to do today?" When you get your answer, don't get distracted, Every day -- Do the One Thing. Your life will change dramatically.

Bareness (inability to produce) often becomes a valley of endless and increasing sorrow. A woman's bareness knows few words that express her agony and sense of emptiness (1 Samuel 1:15). A greater misfortune however, is the spiritual bareness of individual believers and churches. Spiritual bareness is indicative of neglect in the matter of the greatest importance: the worship of God and the salvation of sinners. This kind of bareness is born from a complicitness with the world.

Christians cannot afford to live in a constant state of bareness. It results in reckless pursuits that undermines spiritual growth. Spiritual Believers understand that bareness is a perpetual state of counterfeiting God's will for selfish inclinations. There is nothing more essential for the Believer than fruitfulness. Why? The alternative is a constancy of masquerade and bareness. Thank God we have the indwelling Holy Spirit who will never tolerate us,  but is ever instigating a pursuit of worshiping the living God and the salvation of sinners.

Luke 24:44-48: Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise F168 from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.

The Lord Jesus Christ said, "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance" (Luke 5:31). He wanted unbelievers to turn from their wrongdoing toward a life of obedience to God. That is still His desire today.

Repentance, which follows confession of sin, is a commitment to alter direction and leave wrongdoing behind. This change of heart is a necessary step in the decision to follow Jesus Christ as Savior. The Holy Spirit transforms the inner person so that the child of God has a new attitude about his purpose. And when attitude is different, conduct will be too.