Thursday, November 7, 2019

Obey God or Man?


After being put in prison for giving credit to Jesus for healing a lame man, what would you expect Peter and John to say at their interrogation?

I’m sure they were prayerful. As such:
Acts 4:8-12    Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected,
    which has become the cornerstone.’
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

I know I would be prayerful in a situation like this. However, the Holy Spirit would really need to help me be bold like Peter! He didn’t hesitate (or tread lightly), even though he had no idea what additional punishment lay ahead.

In fact, after the religious leaders conferred with each other:
Acts 4:18-20    18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Wow! Peter and John didn’t compromise.
Where are you and I tempted to listen to and do what someone else says rather than what God says? Maybe it’s to avoid conflict. No matter what the earthly consequence, we’re to obey God over and above anyone else.

Alice

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