Acts 2:22-31 CSB
"Fellow Israelites, listen to these words: This Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through him, just as you yourselves know. [23] Though he was delivered up according to God's determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him. [24] God raised him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by death. [25] For David says of him: I saw the Lord ever before me; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. [26] Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope, [27] because you will not abandon me in Hades or allow your holy one to see decay. [28] You have revealed the paths of life to me; you will fill me with gladness in your presence. [29] "Brothers and sisters, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. [30] Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne. [31] Seeing what was to come, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not abandoned in Hades, and his flesh did not experience decay.
John 10:17-18 CSB
This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. [18] No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."
Not Abandoned
One of the biggest hurdles to our faith is when we try to live “horizontally.” We focus on the problems and the wealth of this world. Our prayers often become a list of demands: Please solve this problem for me. Let me marry this person. I really need a new car. If I can just get a better job, I can pay my bills and finally be happy. These are not inherently bad things to desire, but when they become our primary focus, they keep us from living “vertically.” True happiness and contentment for the believer is found when we focus on serving God rather than trying to use Him as a cosmic genie to fill our every want.
One way to shift our gaze upward is to return to a deep appreciation of what Jesus has already done. The love of the Lord is staggering. While many hands were involved in hanging Him on that cross for our wrongs, Jesus went there willingly. As we see in John 10, He had the power to stop it, yet He chose to lay His life down for you and me. We are like drowning men and women reaching for a life raft; He didn’t just toss us a rope—He pulled us into the boat to live with Him forever. This is the heart of vertical living: focusing on the One who cared enough to die so that we might live.
But how can people know this if they have never heard? How can they believe the Good News of eternal life unless the message is given? The Holy Spirit arrived with a roar to empower a small, fearful band of followers, enabling them to declare the glories of God in languages they had never studied. The Spirit always points toward Jesus and the cross so that those who hear the Word might be saved.
The Holy Spirit filled the once-fearful Peter with words of iron and hope. Addressing the multitude that had gathered, Peter spoke tough truths through the Spirit’s power. He reminded them that Jesus’ resurrection was not a surprise or an accident—it was predicted long ago. Peter quoted Psalm 16, a prophecy by King David: “For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.” The Psalms are more than just sacred poems or songs for worship; they are a map of the journey of faith—covering repentance, trust, and praise—while simultaneously containing prophecy that points directly to our Lord. Peter pointed out the obvious of Psalm 16: David was dead and buried in a tomb they could still visit. Therefore, David couldn’t have been talking about himself. He was talking about his descendant—Jesus—the one who would sit on the throne forever.
We serve a risen Lord who did not see decay. Because He was not abandoned in the grave, we have a hope of glory that transcends every horizontal problem we face.
Reflection Questions
- When you look at your prayer life this past week, has it been mostly “horizontal” (asking for things) or “vertical” (thanking God for who He is and what He has done)?
- Peter points out that David’s tomb was still there, but Jesus’ was empty. How does the reality of the empty tomb change the way you view the “dead ends” in your own life?
- Jesus said He laid His life down willingly. How does knowing that He wasn’t a victim, but a willing Savior, change your understanding of His love for you personally?
Prayer
Father,
We confess that our eyes often wander to the things of this world. We get caught up in our needs and our wants, forgetting the incredible gift of the life raft You have provided. Thank You for Jesus, who willingly went to the cross to pay a debt He did not owe. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, who points us back to that cross every single day. Help us to live vertically today, seeking Your will and resting in the hope of the resurrection.
Amen.
