May 1, 2008 - Acts 5:20

“’Go, stand in the temple courts,’ he said, ‘and tell the people the full message of this new life.’” Acts 5:20.
Because of their jealousy, the religious rulers arrested Peter and some of the other followers of Jesus and had them put into jail. During the night, an angel was sent from God to set them free, instructing them to go into the Temple and speak to all the people about the full message of God’s rescue mission through Jesus, the Nazarene. Having now spent a little time in jail (and the jails of their times were nowhere near as nice as today’s jails!), Peter was starting to see what was to be required of him. If he was going to be one of the leaders of this new movement, which was now under attack by the authorities, then a new level of obedience was essential.
When the angel appeared to him, Peter did not question or raise any doubts. He stood and obeyed the angel’s charge. Nor did Peter appear to be afraid of the religious authorities. He now had a higher authority Whom he was to follow and obey. Not long before, Peter had, to his own shame, rejected Jesus, and he was not about to do that ever again. He was no longer worried about his own life; he was now on a mission. He was carrying the very words of life that would profoundly change the lives of these lost and dying people around him, his neighbors.
Questions to consider: Have you been profoundly changed by the Gospel of Jesus so that you would obey the call of the Lord, no matter what? Who are you afraid of sharing the Lord with? Do you have any limitations on living out the Gospel of Jesus before any and all people in your world?
Prayer: Lord, help me to be sold out for Your Kingdom’s sake. Give me the courage that Peter exhibited, when he obeyed the angel’s charge to go and preach the gospel, even though the authorities would arrest him again and treat him even more cruelly. Amen.