This Is the Way: A 30-Day Journey Through the Book of ActsНамуна

Upside Down

By Matthew Hernandez

And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. —Acts 17: 6-8 ESV (emphasis added)

In March of 2023, my wife, Brittany, and I led a trip to Israel along with a group of friends and young adults. We’ve been to Israel several times, but this trip felt special. We took a boat ride and worshipped on the Sea of Galilee, baptized people in the Jordan River, and read the Sermon on the Mount from the location where it was believed to have taken place. We ate falafel while shopping at an old market in Jerusalem, and then we walked up the southern steps to the Temple Mount, taking the same route Jesus would have taken during His final hours before the crucifixion. At night we gathered as a team and worshiped, read Scripture together, and processed our day. I remember on the last night we were there, a guy in our group said, “I feel like my world has been flipped upside down on this trip!” Several heads nodded in agreement, and I knew exactly what he meant.

My first trip to Israel in 2017 turned my life upside down. I came home forever marked. The Bible contains black words on a white page, but after that trip, the space between was filled with new understanding and experiences. Scripture began to take on new meaning and perspective because I didn’t have to use my imagination anymore. I could picture it in full color. Literally.

I remember one night we stayed in a hotel by the Sea of Galilee, and a group of us decided to get into the water. We played and splashed around like kids! I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience. One friend asked, “Did the disciples do this?!” I wanted to believe they did! I wanted to relate to them so badly—not just in the heavy moments but in the fun experiences as well!

So much of who I am today has not only been shaped by my first trip to Israel, but also by what took place in that land 2,000 years ago.My world has been flipped upside down because the early followers of Jesus turned the world upside down. They disrupted the system, pushed against culture, and continued the movement and message of Jesus. How did they do it? They walked in the power of the Holy Spirit; they proclaimed the kingdom of heaven; and they preached that Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and is coming back.

I have come to understand there’s a difference between believing “that” and believing “in.” The early followers of Jesus didn’t just believe that He was the Messiah. They believed in Jesus the Messiah. Because of their belief, they were passionate about their obedience to Him. And for some, this passionate obedience cost them their lives.

Followers of Jesus, or followers of “the Way” as they are referred to in Scripture, disrupted the world around them (see Acts 19:9, 23). Not out of arrogance or force—that certainly isn’t the way of Jesus. They disrupted by the way they loved, by their compassion, and by their heart to build the kingdom of heaven through the power of the Holy Spirit. They chose what doesn’t always come naturally: love over hate, forgiveness over bitterness, and humility over pride. They knew and believed that in the kingdom of heaven, the way up is often the way down—on their faces humbly before God.

I want to live with this same kind of humility and passion. I want to disrupt the world around me and change the culture I’m living in. Because my world was turned upside down, I want to follow in the footsteps of Paul and his companions in the book of Acts and turn the world upside down to further the message of the true King—Jesus.

Friends, I believe we can do this together! As we live our lives passionately loving others and building His kingdom, we get the beautiful opportunity to bring heaven to earth—to show people here what it can look like there. This is a gift, and we’re in this adventure together. Let’s do this!

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for choosing to partner with me. Thank You for turning my world upside down by coming into my life and showing me new revelations of Your love for me. I want to pursue You with everything I am. Please give me wisdom and boldness to change the world around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Activation

• How has Jesus turned your life upside down? How are you different now because of that moment? What steps did you take to live your life differently? Write down your experiences and share them with a friend.
• Reflect on areas of your life where God may be calling you to live with radical faith and obedience. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you can disrupt the culture around you through love, forgiveness, and humility. Write down one action you can take this week.
• Pray about going on a mission trip or volunteering to help widows, children, or the homeless.

For Further Study

Acts 17; Matthew 5:1–16; Mark 16:14–20; James 1:27

Holy Spirit, what are you saying to me?