Monday 17 Nov 2014

November 17: Acts 4:23-30

Key Verse: Acts 4:29
Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,

Devotion:
When we stand up and start talking about Jesus (and it doesn’t have to be physically) we will quickly find out that there are some people who are very much against what we say. At one stage I was publishing recordings of these devotionals when there was a free service to do that easily and after gaining a few followers I was followed by one person who seemed bent on disrupting things by always commenting in contradictory ways. Fortunately they grew tired after seeing that I would not back down about the Word of God! But that sort of thing will wear you down.

I am pretty sure that Peter and John must have had a very tough time by being arrested and accused of doing things against the people and against God. But by standing up to the truth they were able to continue telling people about Jesus; not freely, but with continued struggle. It is those struggles that will test us and see if we are found wanting. It is those struggles that allow us to see just how much faith we do have and how much we know about God as well.

Being able to study about God by reading the bible and other books by people who themselves have studied allows us to build up knowledge and wisdom that helps us to support our own arguments when we are faced with disruptive people. Without those trials we tend to grow a bit weaker because we are not tested; almost like taking the Word of God for granted and not actually learning as much as we should.

Sometimes I will read a verse or two and write about them. Other times I will have to read chapter after chapter before God shows me something special to write about. I don’t give up, I dig my heals in and carry on until the truth comes out. That should be our attitude about everything to do with God, not backing down just because we don’t get what, come up against someone or because we want to be nice and kind – get on with your relationship with Christ and count it all joy!

Points to Ponder:
Do you falter when it gets tough?

What do you think God says about your attitude?