December 11, 2024
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men” – Acts 5:29
How often do you find yourself in sticky situations, where you boldly have to stand up for your faith and for others? Maybe you’ve built a close relationship with a friend, but now it might get awkward because you have to correct them, which could damage the relationship or make things feel weird. Maybe when you were younger, you found yourself in a peer-pressured situation or a time where you had to stand for something no matter the cost.
In the book of Acts, the Apostles found themselves in a situation where they were just thrown into prison. Can you imagine going to prison for your faith? Suddenly, an angel of the Lord frees them from the cell and tells them to “Go stand at the temple and tell the people the words of this life.” Then, the high priest and other Jewish leaders tell them to stop preaching.
Peter, who once denied Jesus three times, replied, “We must obey God rather than men.” What a transformation! How could this happen? Because “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).
In your life, you have the greatest calling, which is living for Christ. Living for Christ means obeying Him even when it’s hard. You don’t need to go through life seeking approval or validation from anyone because you already have it from Jesus.
Rest in the truth that doing the right thing may be difficult, it may cause awkwardness, it may cost you something, but for Jesus, it cost Him everything. Are you willing to follow Him and pay that price of discipleship and obedience?
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” – Winston Churchill.