“When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.

The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.“
Acts 5:21b-33

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OCTOBER 10, 2024

Whew, today’s topic is a hard one for me. For most of my life I’ve been afraid of people. I don’t scream and hide in the bushes every time I see another human, but when I am in social situations, I feel anxiety in my stomach. I try to talk and interact as much as I can in socially acceptable ways, but I’m looking forward to the relief of being alone. At the same time, I’m a people pleaser, which makes this fear double.

When I read about these brave apostles, filled with the boldness of the Holy Spirit, empowered to speak the full truth of Christ in the face of opposition, I am in awe. I find it hard to tell someone the truth that I don’t like a movie or sports team they love! These men seem completely free from caring what others think about them, and because of that they are free to love others fully. That is so refreshing to me, something I desire with all my heart. I’m not there yet.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit they have been freed to obey God rather than man. Take a minute to reflect on that. Does that seem easy or hard to you?

Obeying God is hard. We are still entangled in our desires to obey ourselves and we are slaves to the judgement of others. We are not fully free yet.

In the story we are reading this week, the crowds want to be healed but many are too afraid to join the apostles. The religious leaders are afraid to lose their power and status among the people, afraid of a rioting crowd against them. The prison guards are afraid of an angry crowd killing them. Everyone is afraid of suffering.

Expect the disciples. They have met the risen Lord, and the love that overcomes fear.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • Do you live your life obeying humans out of fear or obeying God out of freedom?
  • What is hard for you about living that way?

 

Church Reading Plan: Ezekiel 43; Psalm 95-96