Good Morning Friends,
The rulers of the Jews commanded Peter and
John and the other Christians to stop spreading the message of Jesus and they
threatened them if they did continue. Then they released Peter and John and the
two apostles rejoined the rest of the church. What’s remarkable is to read the response
of the church to the threats that were made and the commands that were given.
“‘Now, Lord, consider their threats and
enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your
hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your
holy servant Jesus.’ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God
boldly.” (Acts 4:29-31)
In response to the threats, the Christians
asked God to give them the ability to speak the word of God with great
boldness. The threats didn’t keep the Christians from spreading the message
that God wanted them to spread. The threats just drove them more fully to God
and encouraged them to rely on God’s protection and power.
For the Christians, there was something in
their lives that was more important than their safety and their comfort. Doing
God’s will was the most important thing in their lives. Even if God’s will
brought them into danger and put them on the wrong side of the authorities –
they would accept the hardships and continue to do what God wanted.
We live in a day in which there is little
hardship attached to doing what God wants us to do. We can share the message of
God with those around us without concern that the authorities will try to stop
us or in some way make our life more difficult because of what we do. We can be
obedient to God’s commands without fear.
I wonder if in our safety we are as bold as
the Christians in the early church were in their danger?
His, by Grace,
Steve
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