"Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know--

this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

"But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.

"For David says of Him,
'I SAW THE LORD ALWAYS IN MY PRESENCE;
FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN.
'THEREFORE MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTED;
MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE;
BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES,
NOR ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.
'YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE;
YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS WITH YOUR PRESENCE.'

The author of Acts wrote that Peter spoke these words to a group of Jews from the diaspora in Jerusalem not long after Christ's resurrection. There are powerful ideas behind these words.

The idea that the generation that saw Jesus saw His mighty power, rejected it, and killed Him.

The idea that God had this planned out from eternity.

The idea that God raised Jesus again, and that it was impossible for death to keep hold of Him.

The idea that Christ makes known to people the way of life and that His presence makes people full of gladness.

I look at my own life and wonder: Do I look at His presence in my life with the full measure of gladness that David wrote about? That is my prayer.

Jesus, I want your presence in my life to be nothing less than full gladness in my heart. You submitted to a cruel death, but it had no power to hold you in its grip. Thank you for showing that there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for another. As our group travels to India, prepare us to lay down our lives for one another and the people we encounter, however that may look. Calm our anxieties, nerves, and illnesses. My conversation with mom tonight showed me that this trip is becoming more real and I want to take full advantage of every opportunity. Turn our group members' anxieties into action - action to accomplish what You want us to accomplish!

Peter ended with the following words to those in Jerusalem who asked him who would benefit from the actions of this Nazarene.

"For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."

God is always calling people to Himself. Do you hear Him?