Good morning, brothers and sisters.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 4:19, “But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than God, you judge.’”
The hierarchy of decision making gets programmed into us at an early age. As soon as we are able to do something on our own, we begin to hear from our parents whether we are allowed to do it or not. Not long thereafter, we are taught that that authority transfers over to other adults beyond our parents. But before too long, opportunities begin to arise where we are empowered to decide for ourselves. It might be in picking out our clothes for the day, or choosing what book to read or what cartoon to watch, but in those little things, we learn that we can occupy the seat at the top of the pyramid, even if only for a moment. But soon, the world begins to open up to us, and we are deciding what to decide and what not to. We are given carte blanche concerning areas of serious import, choosing among options that will affect our self and others in meaningful and long-lasting ways. It’s a progression that takes us from the very bottom of the food chain to being the top dog. And somewhere along the way, by God’s grace and mercy, most of us came to believe that God Almighty sat far above any pyramid of authority or chain of command. If you declare yourself a follower of Jesus, then that means among other things that you recognize and gladly accept that God is supreme.
But in the realities of our everyday struggles, that supremacy is challenged regularly. Little deviations, things that might resemble someone rolling their eyes in the presence of the king, test our commitment to our Master. And without realizing it, we are in the arena where the prevailing voice is in the balance. Will we listen to God or to that which summons us elsewhere? Despite knowing how the organizational chart is laid out, we are tempted to circumvent what’s best and right and settle for something packaged cleverly and attractively. Even knowing that all this is taking place in the sight of God sometimes gets drowned out. The moment of judgment comes quickly and feels irrepressible. So, will you listen to God or listen to you? You judge which is right.
As we seek Him today, take the role of decision maker, judge, or jury and give it back to God, who is able to lead you in the way of understanding.
Have a grand Wednesday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
