Good morning, friends.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 5:40, “And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.”
I think I can speak for all of us parents when I say that one of our worst traits is that we tend to drone on about things. When we recognize the need to correct and instruct our children, sometimes the most difficult part is knowing when to stop. We have such thorough explanations and a myriad of reasons and examples that we cannot force ourselves to halt before we have endowed them with our full array of wisdom and insight. Many times the other parent’s job becomes alerting the one to reign it in and not bludgeon the child with mind-numbing, eye-glazing speeches. Too often we beat down any opportunity the child has to accept and agree with whatever cause we are going to battle for. But when we do happen to bring them to a point of decision and recognition, part of what we are looking for is a change in their behavior. We don’t want to see heads nod without the body’s compliance following behind.
Gamaliel persuaded the other councilmen to back off of the apostles to see what would come of their movement. But even as they voiced their agreement, they beat them physically and threatened them verbally. Moreover, as you read even the next few pages of Acts, we learn of Stephen being falsely accused and stoned to death, and Saul and others wreaking great havoc and persecution on the men and women of the church. And once Saul is converted on the road to Damascus, he becomes the focal point for the vitriol and abuse poured out against Christ’s followers. No, I wouldn’t say that those cohorts of Gamaliel, and the others who came after them, truly agreed to stand back and let God do or not do as He saw fit.
But for you and me, we have agreed with and believed claims about Jesus and claims Jesus has made about us. Of all the things we could say about ourselves, we say that we are Christians. We nod our heads when truth is proclaimed and sin is denounced. But are our bodies following close behind? Are they living the life of one who has agreed to follow and obey King Jesus? Or is your allegiance a little murky, having gotten slightly askew between your head and your heart? If you agree, not with me but with Jesus, then the time is right to show it.
As we seek Him today, bring your decisions and your convictions together in a closer relationship with the Savior and King.
Have an agreeable Thursday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
