So What…

…does that mean for my family?

Where in the Word? Acts 5:12-42 They Never Stopped Proclaiming the Gospel

Spotlight Verse: Acts 5:40-42 “…They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus….The apostles left…rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day…they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”

…do we need?

Þ A place to gather

…can we talk about?

What a perspective! What a miracle, too! Back in Acts 4, the apostles had asked God for boldness as well as miraculous signs and wonders. I can’t imagine getting any bolder or anything being more miraculous than being able to face a beating and still be able to get up and continue preaching and teaching. And not just continue, but continue with an attitude of joy and determination!

Sometimes I wonder what it takes to get a perspective like that. But the thing is this: The apostles wouldn’t have been able to muster up a joy or steadfastness like this on their own. It was nothing they could muster up. It was a perspective they had. And they had it because of their intimate and devoted relationship with Jesus Christ. They didn’t just think that the “good news” was the best gig running; they didn’t just spread the word of the Messiah because they needed something to fill their time; they did it and continued in it because they believed in it and lived it.

Look at what the angel said to them in verse 20: “…tell the people the full message of this new life.” It wasn’t a gimic or a marketing scheme or even a religious set of rules. No one had to attend a conference to know how to share the message. It was in them and it had to come out. It was their life, and they were willing to go through very hard times to defend that life. Try this:

Think about who you are. Think about your name. We have talked about how there is power in a name. There is also loyalty in a name. I am Jennifer Scott Patten. You could say that my physical life revolves around being Jennifer Scott Patten. I am proud of my name, and am not ashamed to tell people who I am. If someone were to challenge the goodness in the Scott or the Patten name (ok, I hear you laughing) I would have to defend it. Not because I would have to make myself do it, but because it would be a natural response. If I am that loyal to my earthly name, how much more should I be to my spiritual name--Christian? I find that pretty convicting!!

…can we pray for?

Let’s pray that God will grant us more of Himself. Then as we know Him, we will do, say and be what He wants us to be for His glory-even when hard times come! And let’s pray that we can miraculously even count it all joy!!

Let’s pray that God will make it ever so clear to us that we are a part of his family once we trust in Him . Let’s pray that as that truth becomes more and more real to us that our lives will merely be reflections of what is inside!!