April 23rd Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON ACTS 

THE BEAT GOES ON

Acts 5:17-21 “Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.”  

“The beat goes on” is a saying that the continuation of an event or circumstance will happen in spite challenges. Certainly, the Sadducees did everything they could think to do, including jailing the apostles, in an effort to silence them.    

Today’s devotional verses tell of the continuation of the apostle’s preaching and teaching, in spite of the Sadducees efforts to stop them, through the intervention of an angel sent from heaven. The angel opened the jail door for the apostles to escape. They, however, did not run for their lives. Instead, they appeared in the temple courts and taught the people.    

Countless efforts have been made from the time of Acts 5 to this very day to silence the preaching and teaching of the gospel. For example, the Chinese government continues to restrict the proclamation of the gospel, but it is estimated that in that country there may be anywhere from conservatively 50 million Christians to as high as over 200 million. Even in Muslim countries where practicing the Christian faith can bring death there are millions and millions who worship Jesus every week. The beat continues to go on.    

Jesus has simply said to all of us who believe in Him, “You shall be My witnesses. . .” (Acts 1:8) He has given us His commission, “to make disciples.” (Matthew 28:18ff) Take heart, fellow believers, “The Beat goes on.”    

Prayer: Lord, give me faith to faithfully witness the Good News of Your unconditional love for sinners to those who receive it and believe and also to those who attempt to silence it. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.      

Rise, shine, you people! Christ the Lord has entered  
Our human story; God in Him is centered.  
He comes to us, by death and sin surrounded,  
With grace unbounded. 

See how He sends the pow’rs of evil reeling;  
He brings us freedom, light and life and healing.  
All men and women, who by guilt are driven,  
Now are forgiven. 

Come, celebrate, your banners high unfurling,  
Your songs and prayers against the darkness hurling. 
 To all the world go out and tell the story  
Of Jesus’ glory. 

Tell how the Father sent His Son to save us,  
Tell of the Son, who life and freedom gave us.  
Tell how the Spirit calls from ev’ry nation  
His new creation.  

Rise, Shine, You People // LSB 825