A Bold Witness

In Acts chapter four we observe that Peter and John have had an amazing transformation in their lives. Not only had they been with Jesus nearly everyday for the last three years, but they were now filled with the Holy Spirit which clearly made all the difference.

If you've read Acts chapter three then you will recall how Peter and John healed a crippled man of 40 years in the name of Jesus. This event drew an enormous crowd which created another great opportunity for the gospel to be proclaimed. Peter gave all the glory to Christ and many believed. That day the church grew to about 5000 men, not including all the women and children. All this commotion stirred up the chief priest and teachers of religious law because Peter and John were glorifying Jesus and his resurrection. They arrested Peter and John and threw them into prison for the night.

The next day, "they had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:7-12)

Can you imagine saying these words to the very same men who had crucified Jesus? This is heavy stuff! Peter and John mean serious business. This is also a very different picture of the apostles who on the night Jesus was arrested fled the scene. They are living and acting with power and boldness.

I can feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins even as I write this. It sound much like the godly defiance spoken by three Hebrew teenagers to the mighty King Nebuchadnezzar, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18)

Yes! Go for it! Proclaim it! Take the risk!

Today, as an act of worship, may we be emboldened to witness for Christ at all cost. May we hear the words of Christ resounding in our hearts, "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." (Luke 12:4-5)

All Authority Has Been Given

John 19:7-11

Today we read Jesus' last words to Pilate. To set the stage, Jesus had been arrested, tried, found innocent yet was flogged, and is now on the verge of being sentenced to death or released. Pilate is visibly upset at hearing the real charges the Chief Priests are bringing against Jesus, "We have a law," they said, "and according to that law he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God." (John 19:7)

The ball was now in Pilate's court, and he had to make a judgment. He chose to take Jesus inside and question him one more time. At first Jesus refuses to speak to him. Then in response to Pilate's question, "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or crucify you?" Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." (John 19:10-11) This is the focus of today's devotion. God gave Pilate the authority.

Do you recall Daniel's interpretation of the Babylonian King's dream. He said, "the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes." (Daniel 4:25) We know, based on the whole of scripture, that the cross was God's idea. It was his plan to redeem us from having to pay for our sin. He had already chosen to purchase us with his blood from the very beginning and set things in motion to do so. Pilate was not acting alone. In fact, Jesus said this was the very reason he came to earth, "to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)

God is sovereign over our lives. He does have a purpose for your life. He has given you a platform. He has given you relationships with people who need him. He has given you authority to chose and act according to his word or not. So what will it be? What will you chose?

Today as an act of worship praise God for his amazing grace. Thank him for the cross. Thank him for being sovereign over the kingdoms of men. Thank him for giving you the influence and authority you possess. Now go and leverage all that you have to bring glory to his grace.

And Those Who Walk in Pride He is Able to Humble

Romans 12:3-5

"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."

The more I read these words the clearer it becomes that this passage is about thinking realistically about yourself. There was a time, even as a seasoned Christian, when I began to think I had it all together. To be frank, it felt natural to think I was more than I really was especially during a season of peace and prosperity. But, when the wheels came off the truth surfaced and reality conquered my prideful optimism. Apparently, I did not have it all together. Looking back now the major problem with that roller coaster was that it was unnecessary. In fact, God never wanted me to think I had it all together in the first place.

The longer I walk with Jesus the more I truly understand that the major lesson that must be learned is how to be totally dependent on God. I must die to myself each day and surrender my will to His will.

Warning: If we allow a self-building self-supporting self-sustaining attitude to creep in and puff us up we better be ready for a ride. We will let ourselves down every time. Sure, we can flounder on our own for a season but in the end we will fall. When we think more highly about ourselves than we ought too we allow pride to put down roots in us that will inevitably bear the fruit of failure. Did you see it in the text? What is the sobering truth? Read it again.

It says we should think of ourselves with "sober judgment, according to the measure of faith" we can muster up. Right? No, we should think of ourselves with "sober judgment according to the measure of faith God has given [us]." Think carefully now, the reason this is important is because when we think too highly of ourselves we overlook the fact that God has given us the faith in the first place. We did not have it nor did we earn it. Faith is a gift.

So what do we do with this today? My encouragement to you is to respond with thanksgiving. Thank the Lord for His kindness. Thank him for the gift of faith he has cultivated in your heart.
Let your personal worship be centered in God's greatness and not our greatness. May we have a radical humility before Him.

Additional scriptures: Proverbs 8:13, 16:18, Daniel 4:37, 1 Corinthians 1:31, Galatians 6:14, Ephesians 2:8-9