ACTS 4:31

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

TO PONDER

First, some background to today’s reading. Peter and John had healed a crippled man begging at the temple entrance. When a crowd gathered, Peter and John used the opportunity to present the gospel message to them, but the religious authorities took exception to being accused of murdering Jesus and to the suggestion that they were no longer the authorities on how to have a relationship with God. So they put Peter and John in jail overnight and had a sort of kangaroo court in the morning telling them to stop preaching about Jesus. Beyond that, they were not punished and were allowed to go back to report to their fellow Christians. Following their report, the assembled Christians broke out in prayer, ending with the two verses immediately before our verse for today, above:

“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

As these Christians surrendered their goals and dreams to what were God’s goals and plans, and made themselves available for God to use, Holy Spirit honoured their servant attitude and used them to be bold and brave in carrying out God’s plans for them in growing the infant church.

I have experienced it myself, seen it in others and read about it in church histories how Christians have had great ides and bravely sought to carry out their dreams for God, asking God’s blessings on their endeavours, only for the project to end in failure and disappointment. I have also read about amazing productive lives for God, where the people involved relied solely on God’s leading for their activities.

The point I am trying to make is that there is no use being bold and brave doing our thing for God, but if we are doing the tasks God is calling us to do, and we willingly and bravely follow where He leads us, He will obviously bless His own work.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we look into the immediate future, we see many challenges for our personal lives and the life of Your church. But in saying this, we have to confess we are forgetting that You are in complete control. And as Your children, You are always beside us through Holy Spirit to protect, guide and encourage us in boldly following where You are taking us to serve as members of Your Family. Thank You. Amen

Today's devotion written by Charles Bertelsmeier, LifeWay Epping