Acts 5:28-29 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!”

This is a magnificent story that is very applicable to us today. In the first place, the high priest paid the apostles a high compliment, though that certainly wasn’t his intention, when he said, “You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching.” In other words, he was saying that they were engaging in very effective evangelism! That was in the face of what is happening with increasing frequency in America today: strict orders not to teach in the Name of Jesus. Of course, the situation in America is much milder than that in Muslim countries or North Korea, where even declaring the Name of Jesus in public can get you killed, but even in Japan there is a movement afoot to revive state Shinto, essentially, by teaching its foundational myths in public schools and requiring students to participate in Shinto observances. This is certainly a time to learn from Peter and the other apostles to say, “We must obey God rather than men,” whatever the personal cost. Too many Christians today tend to “roll over and play dead” at the first sign of real opposition, when that is not the way to experience the victory God has for us in Christ. (Romans 8:37) It is certainly not the way our forebears in the faith lived!

I have not experience much personal opposition to my faith in Christ, so I risk being glib here. This is not a position to take lightly; martyrdom continues to increase. I must never place my personal comfort and convenience ahead of obedience and loyalty to Jesus Christ my Lord. As I look over the congregation here, as well as over the wider Church, I see so many Christians distracted by peripheral issues, seemingly unable to fix their hearts fully on Christ. I know from my own experience that distractions can at times seem overwhelming, but so many people fail to recognize them as distractions. Not understanding how central and supreme Christ needs to be, they treat Him as a nice accessory to their lives, and hardly begin to walk in the spiritual abundance that God intends for them. I am not to look down on or talk down to them, but neither am I to let them continue blindly like that. I am to declare the Word of the Lord to them in love, challenging them to make Christ first in every area of their lives and hearts, emotions as well as intellect. I cannot cause them to do that in my own strength, certainly, but I can be available and useful to the Holy Spirit for Him to do it, and that is my prayer.

Father, You know all that is going on far better than I do. Thank You for the opposition that is an indication we are at least stepping on the devil’s toes! Help me be strong in Christ, always operating in Your love, so that as many as possible may be set free from the assorted chains that bind them to walk in the liberty of Your Spirit, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!