The Apostles were being persecuted by the Religious Leaders for preaching the Gospel Message. They had been brought before them to be condemned to death when a Teacher of the Law by the name of Gamaliel tried to talk some sense into them. In these verses you’ll find the word “if” twice. One word with two completely different meanings. “If it’s the work of men…” Here Gamaliel thought there was only a slight possibility that it was true and the Apostles were acting on their own. “But if it’s from God…” Here the if Gamaliel used meant he firmly believed it was from God and nothing the Religious Leaders did would stop it. That’s why he urged them to just walk away…for he knew they didn’t have the capacity or power to destroy a work of God.
Category: daily devotional
Isaiah 41:22-24 ” Bring in your idols to tell us what’s going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come, tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear.”
Earlier in this Chapter, Isaiah speaks of the power and magnificence of God and how there is no other God besides Him. He then addresses the many idols of Israel…man-made pieces that they have put their trust in rather than God. Finally, in these verses above, Isaiah sarcastically suggests they bring their idols to him so they may be questioned about past and future events in order to somehow legitimize their “godliness”. His sarcasm only continues as he urges these idols to, “Do something, don’t just sit there looking at me!” No man-made idol will ever take the place of God, for no man-made idol has the capacity, authority, dominion, or might as God does.
Luke 8:19-21 ” Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to Him, but they were not able to get near Him because of the crowd. Someone told Him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside.’ He replied, ‘My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.’ “
Jesus wasn’t being disrespectful. He was simply showing the difference between His blood family, and His spiritual family. Elsewhere in Luke we can find Him repeating this notion when He says, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28) When we become a Christian, we are adopted into and become part of the family of God. And part of being in this family is listening to the word of God and then applying it to our own life…practicing until it becomes a habit.
Ephesians 2:12-13 “Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”
In these Scriptures Paul is speaking to Gentile Christians…then and now. For in this man-centered world we are cut-off from the promises of God…or as Paul wrote, “without hope and without God.” But we have been brought near to God by the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus Christ…who gave His life as a atonement so we may have the gift of eternal life. God’s compassion was evident to fallen man when we read Isaiah 65:1 which says, “I revealed Myself to those who didn’t ask for Me; I was found by those who didn’t seek Me.” We were once expelled from the dominion of God, banished and living in exile when Jesus came and paid the price…reconciling us back to God and destroying the barrier that sin had created.
Judges 9:8 ” One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves.”
Judges 9: 7-15 is one of the few parables in the Old Testament. In it the trees are searching for a king to rule over them. They start with the prime candidate, the Olive tree…but it refuses. So they approach the next best tree, the Fig tree, but no go. Quickly coming to the common Vine they inquire if it would become their king, but it declines also. Finally in desperation, they seek out the lowly thorn bush who agrees. In I Samuel 8:5-7 the people came to the Prophet Samuel demanding a king. No longer satisfied with the system of Judges that had been established by the Lord…they were rejecting God for a visible man to place their trust in. In other words, they wanted to walk by sight and not by faith anymore. So from then on, each time they demanded, “Give us a king!” they never quite knew if they were getting a Olive tree…or a Thorn bush.
Psalm 88:18 ” You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.”
One of the realities of life is that we will lose people close to us. And as we get older and older it happens more often. We look around, and all our beloved friends and family are gone…and left in their place is this huge void. This Scripture actually reminded me of the first line of an old Simon and Garfunkel song, “Hello darkness, my old friend I’ve come to talk with you again…” And if you read this entire Psalm, you’ll recognize that dark place as grieving and loss. But within this darkness there’s also the hope of God, and the Writer of this Psalm knows this is where he needs to be.
Colossians 1:10 ” And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God…”
Even though Ralph Waldo Emerson grappled with his faith, one of his quotes fits this Scripture very well. He said, ” The purpose of life isn’t to be happy. It’s to be useful, honorable, compassionate, and to have made some kind of difference that you’ve lived and lived well.” This living our life worthy is also found in Ephesians 4:1, where Paul wrote, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you’ve received.” For when we conduct our life filled with good works and wisdom – God’s perfect plan and purpose will be fulfilled…and in the end we’ll have made a difference in the world.
Job 37:5 ” God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; He does great things beyond our understanding.”
If you’ve ever been in a severe thunderstorm you know how loud the claps of thunder can be…especially if a flash of lightning strikes very close by. This verse likens that deafening crash with the voice of God and His display of power…doing things far beyond the boundaries of human comprehension. This greatness of God that is too wonderful for us to understand is best summed up in Job 11:7-9 when they ask, “Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?” The answer is no…God’s power is outside the reach of our minds.
Revelation 7:9-10 ” After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, Who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’ “
Just think…some day we will join in a celebration of praise around the throne of God. We will gather together…a untold throng of humanity from all parts of the world… speaking every language known…yet all together with a common bond. And in a loud voice our praises will rise as one expression of thankfulness and gratitude to our Heavenly Father and to His Son.
Romans 13:11-12 ” The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
This Scripture is very blunt… wake up. You may think you can wait to make a decision for Christ until you get old, after you’ve had all your fun. Or maybe you’re dabble in secret sins, thinking smugly you can stop anytime you want…but continue in risky behaviors, unaware of the dangerous position you’re placing yourself in. But no one knows the hour that they will die and for some, tomorrow may never come. So it’s time for you to wake up from your slumber… before it’s too late.
Safetypinlove 