“’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.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
April 24, 2008 - Acts 5:17
“Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.” Acts 5:17.
God was doing amazing things – healings and deliverances from evil spirits – by the hand of this fledgling community of followers of the itinerant rabbi, Jesus. It seemed as though all of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the surrounding area was noticing these actions and were bringing those who needed a touch from God through His healing Spirit. Peter and the others in the community were getting additional notoriety, as well, this time from the “high priest and all his associates.” And these Jewish leaders were not pleased. In fact, as our verse today points out, they were “filled with jealousy.”
But, there was a dark side to these events. These healing actions did not please everyone, and Peter and others were to catch the brunt of the Jewish leadership’s displeasure and jealousy. This was going to bring a whole, new seriousness to the disciples’ commitment to following Jesus. They were now being confronted by a systemic evil, which can be defined, very simply, as a system of wrongs, such as religious bigotry, racism, sexism and economic exploitation. In this case, good was being done to the sick and the oppressed, and the leadership was jealous over the notoriety that this small band of Jesus’ followers was getting. And they planned to do something about it in order to crush this movement.
Questions to consider: What systemic evil(s) are you confronted with, and what are you doing to take a stand against it/them? How would someone know if they are part of or condone a systemic evil and don’t even realize it? How would you help them to overcome and leave that system? Have you ever had to leave some systemic evil?
Prayer: Father, help us to be aware of the systemic evil that comes against the things of Your kingdom. Give us eyes to see and the courage of heart and conviction of spirit to stand firm for You and Your kingdom ways. Help us to see when we condone a systemic evil of some kind and to have the courage and strength to break free from it. Amen.
God was doing amazing things – healings and deliverances from evil spirits – by the hand of this fledgling community of followers of the itinerant rabbi, Jesus. It seemed as though all of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the surrounding area was noticing these actions and were bringing those who needed a touch from God through His healing Spirit. Peter and the others in the community were getting additional notoriety, as well, this time from the “high priest and all his associates.” And these Jewish leaders were not pleased. In fact, as our verse today points out, they were “filled with jealousy.”
But, there was a dark side to these events. These healing actions did not please everyone, and Peter and others were to catch the brunt of the Jewish leadership’s displeasure and jealousy. This was going to bring a whole, new seriousness to the disciples’ commitment to following Jesus. They were now being confronted by a systemic evil, which can be defined, very simply, as a system of wrongs, such as religious bigotry, racism, sexism and economic exploitation. In this case, good was being done to the sick and the oppressed, and the leadership was jealous over the notoriety that this small band of Jesus’ followers was getting. And they planned to do something about it in order to crush this movement.
Questions to consider: What systemic evil(s) are you confronted with, and what are you doing to take a stand against it/them? How would someone know if they are part of or condone a systemic evil and don’t even realize it? How would you help them to overcome and leave that system? Have you ever had to leave some systemic evil?
Prayer: Father, help us to be aware of the systemic evil that comes against the things of Your kingdom. Give us eyes to see and the courage of heart and conviction of spirit to stand firm for You and Your kingdom ways. Help us to see when we condone a systemic evil of some kind and to have the courage and strength to break free from it. Amen.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
April 17, 2008 - Acts 5:16
“Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.” Acts 5:16.
God was doing incredible things through Peter and the other followers of Jesus. There was a renewed seriousness in what was happening, and people were counting the cost of what it meant to follow Jesus. As a result, many new followers were joining the community, and crowds started gathering around to see the excitement. Word was starting to spread that the sick were being healed and that people were being set free from evil spirits. It was even thought that if a sick person could just get into Peter’s shadow, they would be healed or set free. Those days must have been quite exciting!
Peter had seen people healed by touching Jesus and He hadn’t even known who it was who touched him. And now, people were getting healed and delivered by coming under Peter’s shadow. This is the kind of thing that can go straight to someone’s head! If that were to happen to me, I cannot imagine how prideful I might get. Or at least, I would struggle on a regular basis with pride issues, saying something like this: “Aren’t I something!! See how God is using me to heal these people. I’m even doing it in ways that Jesus didn’t even do!” Pride can certainly sneak its way in. Yet, Peter seemed to keep all of that in proper check. Pride and success do not seem to be an issue, and Peter focused on doing God’s bidding and not just making himself look good.
Questions to consider: How do you handle success? Is it all about you, or God, or maybe a mixture of the two? What would need to happen in your life that would enable the Holy Spirit to use you in ways similar to how He used Peter? Would it be possible to be used in that way?
Prayer: Father, when success comes my way, help me to keep my focus on You. In my journey here on earth, help me to have more of Your perspective and not be seduced by pride and the successes that this life can bring. Amen.
God was doing incredible things through Peter and the other followers of Jesus. There was a renewed seriousness in what was happening, and people were counting the cost of what it meant to follow Jesus. As a result, many new followers were joining the community, and crowds started gathering around to see the excitement. Word was starting to spread that the sick were being healed and that people were being set free from evil spirits. It was even thought that if a sick person could just get into Peter’s shadow, they would be healed or set free. Those days must have been quite exciting!
Peter had seen people healed by touching Jesus and He hadn’t even known who it was who touched him. And now, people were getting healed and delivered by coming under Peter’s shadow. This is the kind of thing that can go straight to someone’s head! If that were to happen to me, I cannot imagine how prideful I might get. Or at least, I would struggle on a regular basis with pride issues, saying something like this: “Aren’t I something!! See how God is using me to heal these people. I’m even doing it in ways that Jesus didn’t even do!” Pride can certainly sneak its way in. Yet, Peter seemed to keep all of that in proper check. Pride and success do not seem to be an issue, and Peter focused on doing God’s bidding and not just making himself look good.
Questions to consider: How do you handle success? Is it all about you, or God, or maybe a mixture of the two? What would need to happen in your life that would enable the Holy Spirit to use you in ways similar to how He used Peter? Would it be possible to be used in that way?
Prayer: Father, when success comes my way, help me to keep my focus on You. In my journey here on earth, help me to have more of Your perspective and not be seduced by pride and the successes that this life can bring. Amen.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
April 10, 2008 - Acts 5:13
“No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.” Acts 5:13.
Incredible events had just occurred within this new community of Jesus followers; events that caused great fear and awe to spread among them. This husband and wife, who had tried to deceive God by withholding money that they had pledged, had died suddenly in the presence of Peter and those in attendance. There was a whole, new seriousness to what they were doing and to the life they were living, as a community. This verse indicates that “no one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded.” There was no room for half-hearted belief or for pretenders who may have been involved in the community for reasons other than being a follower of Jesus.
If I had been one who had some mixed reasons for being involved, I would have been a bit more than a little nervous! After all, would I want to end up like this couple? These serious circumstances might have caused me to take a deeper look into my own heart and soul to see where I was really at. They also might have caused me to run away and not faced the true condition on my soul. Either way, I would not have been half-hearted about the decision. I would have been shaken off the fence to decide whether or not to follow Jesus whole-heartedly.
In our world today, we are faced with a similar decision. Maybe there are not the sudden consequences as this early community faced, yet we are none-the-less confronted with ultimate consequences when faced with the reality and seriousness of following Jesus with our whole heart. Take some time today to consider the seriousness of following Jesus.
Questions to consider: Where are you in regards to following Jesus? Are you seeking after Him as whole-heartedly as you can, or are you just coasting along, or are you somewhere in between? What are the consequences for the way that I am choosing to follow Him?
Prayer: Father, help me to, as whole-heartedly as I can, follow after you. Help me to see the hindrances that cause me to be distracted from following You, and give me the strength to follow hard after You. Amen.
Incredible events had just occurred within this new community of Jesus followers; events that caused great fear and awe to spread among them. This husband and wife, who had tried to deceive God by withholding money that they had pledged, had died suddenly in the presence of Peter and those in attendance. There was a whole, new seriousness to what they were doing and to the life they were living, as a community. This verse indicates that “no one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded.” There was no room for half-hearted belief or for pretenders who may have been involved in the community for reasons other than being a follower of Jesus.
If I had been one who had some mixed reasons for being involved, I would have been a bit more than a little nervous! After all, would I want to end up like this couple? These serious circumstances might have caused me to take a deeper look into my own heart and soul to see where I was really at. They also might have caused me to run away and not faced the true condition on my soul. Either way, I would not have been half-hearted about the decision. I would have been shaken off the fence to decide whether or not to follow Jesus whole-heartedly.
In our world today, we are faced with a similar decision. Maybe there are not the sudden consequences as this early community faced, yet we are none-the-less confronted with ultimate consequences when faced with the reality and seriousness of following Jesus with our whole heart. Take some time today to consider the seriousness of following Jesus.
Questions to consider: Where are you in regards to following Jesus? Are you seeking after Him as whole-heartedly as you can, or are you just coasting along, or are you somewhere in between? What are the consequences for the way that I am choosing to follow Him?
Prayer: Father, help me to, as whole-heartedly as I can, follow after you. Help me to see the hindrances that cause me to be distracted from following You, and give me the strength to follow hard after You. Amen.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
April 3, 2008 - Acts 5:8
“Peter asked her, ‘Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?’ ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘that is the price.’” Acts 5:8.
Ananias’ wife, Sapphira, appears before Peter, apparently not aware that her husband had died as a result of lying to the Holy Spirit not long before. Otherwise, she might have been much more careful with her response to Peter. By the manner in which the question is posed to her, it seems as though she is being set up, but that may not be the case. The couple had already decided to hold some of the money back. And yet, with the question, Peter was giving her the opportunity to change her response and admit their deception. Instead, like her husband, she confirms the price and the lie. And, like her husband, she collapses to the ground dead upon hearing of the death of her husband.
While we may not actually die from the consequences, there is a form of death that happens whenever we cover up our actions with lies. Not to long ago, I remember getting caught in a lie to my wife concerning some dietary restrictions that I had agreed to and had broken. I was embarrassed and ashamed of myself for doing it. I had, also, broken her trust, which was going to take some time to restore. There was some death in that moment. There were definite consequences to my actions, as well as my lying to cover them up.
Hopefully, we will not have similar consequences as Ananias and Sapphira, but I am not so sure that “death on the installment plan” is much better. When we mess up, I hope that we do not cover the mess over with a pack of lies.
Questions to consider: Have you ever been caught in your own lies? If so, what did that feel like? Is there anything that you need to get straightened out now?
Prayer: Father, help me to always live in the light with You and with those whom I love. Give me the strength to not cover up my mess-ups with lies. Help me to come to You to get cleaned up and to go to those necessary to get straight. Amen.
Ananias’ wife, Sapphira, appears before Peter, apparently not aware that her husband had died as a result of lying to the Holy Spirit not long before. Otherwise, she might have been much more careful with her response to Peter. By the manner in which the question is posed to her, it seems as though she is being set up, but that may not be the case. The couple had already decided to hold some of the money back. And yet, with the question, Peter was giving her the opportunity to change her response and admit their deception. Instead, like her husband, she confirms the price and the lie. And, like her husband, she collapses to the ground dead upon hearing of the death of her husband.
While we may not actually die from the consequences, there is a form of death that happens whenever we cover up our actions with lies. Not to long ago, I remember getting caught in a lie to my wife concerning some dietary restrictions that I had agreed to and had broken. I was embarrassed and ashamed of myself for doing it. I had, also, broken her trust, which was going to take some time to restore. There was some death in that moment. There were definite consequences to my actions, as well as my lying to cover them up.
Hopefully, we will not have similar consequences as Ananias and Sapphira, but I am not so sure that “death on the installment plan” is much better. When we mess up, I hope that we do not cover the mess over with a pack of lies.
Questions to consider: Have you ever been caught in your own lies? If so, what did that feel like? Is there anything that you need to get straightened out now?
Prayer: Father, help me to always live in the light with You and with those whom I love. Give me the strength to not cover up my mess-ups with lies. Help me to come to You to get cleaned up and to go to those necessary to get straight. Amen.
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