April 24th Daily Devotion
A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON ACTS
WE MUST OBEY GOD
Acts 5:29 (Read Acts 5:21-31) “Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!”
While the apostles were in the temple courtyard teaching the people, the leaders of the Sadducees were sending soldiers to the jail to bring the apostles to them. They found the jail locked tight, but no apostles were found in the cells. These soldiers returned and reported what they had discovered.
The captain of the temple guard learned of the apostles teaching in the courtyard. He went there and asked them to go with him to appear before the Sadducees. The Sadducees said to the apostles: “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name . . . 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!”
Previously the Pharisees came to Jesus demanding Him to tell His disciples to stop proclaiming the gospel. Jesus replied to them, “I tell you . . . if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”(Luke 19:40) Remember in chapter four of Acts where the apostle’s said to those trying to silence them, “. . . we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20) It is almost impossible to stop someone who has heard good news to remain silent about it. There is no better news to have heard than that there is forgiveness of sins by God’s grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Holy Spirit works faith in the hearts of those who receive this good news and believe it. It is virtually impossible to keep this news to oneself. Prayer: Dear Jesus, we too cannot help but tell what we have seen and heard from the pages of the Holy Scriptures. Bless our sharing of this good news. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Jesus, Jesus, only Jesus, Can my heartfelt longing still,
Lo, I pledge myself to Jesus What He wills alone to will,
For my heart, which He hath filled, Ever cries, Lord, as Thou wilt.
One there is for whom I’m living, Whom I love must tenderly;
Unto Jesus I am giving What in love He gave to me.
Jesus’ blood hides all my guilt; Lord, oh, lead me as Thou wilt.
What to me may seem a treasure But displeasing is to Thee,
Oh, remove such harmful pleasure; Give instead what profits me.
Let my heart by Thee be stilled; Make me Thine, Lord, as Thou wilt.
Let me earnestly endeavor Thy good pleasure to fulfil;
In me, through me, with me, ever, Lord, accomplish thou Thy will.
In Thy holy image built, Let me die, Lord, as Thou wilt.
Jesus, constant be my praises, For Thou unto me didst bring
Thine own self and all Thy graces That I joyfully may sing;
Be it unto me, my Shield, As Thou wilt, Lord, as Thou wilt.
Jesus, Jesus, Only Jesus // TLH 348