June 17
Bible Reading: Acts 4:1-4
Acts 4:1-2, “And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”
Though he is a Catholic and his message was to Catholics at a Catholic University, Harrison Butker’s graduation speech received widespread negative publicity, and even harsh rebuke. What caused all the commotion? Harrison had the nerve to speak of such things as the preciousness of babies and virtue of marriage! He was even so audacious as to conclude his remarks by stating that “Christ is King!” But we should not be surprised, in post-Christian America, whenever truth is attacked, as almost any opinion is tolerated, except for when it pertains to truth. Such opposition to truth is nothing new.
Two miracles led to two sermons which led to the salvation of thousands. The religious leaders were “greatly annoyed” by what they saw and took steps to arrest Peter and John because “they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead” (Acts 4:2). Jesus had previously informed His disciples of such things. He had said, “I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). That didn’t mean, of course, that the gates of hell wouldn’t try! He had also warned them, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you” (John 15:20). It didn’t take long after the birth of the church for the persecution to begin.
Some thirty years after this first arrest, Peter wrote his first epistle. His readers were suffering much persecution, and many were losing their friendships, jobs, homes, and sometimes their very lives. In that letter he said, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though some strange thing were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). And it remains so to this day. Don’t be surprised if people insult, mock, threaten, defriend, betray, or otherwise oppose you whenever you share the truth about Jesus. Such is the nature of things in this world. But in standing with Jesus, you stand in good company, for since the beginning of the church, many have suffered, and even more than you. Even now, believers around the world face intense persecution (Hebrews 13:3). The day is coming when every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). In the meantime, stand firm in your testimony, for no other name is so precious as His and no other name is powerful to save (Acts 4:12).
“For five years we never went outside our doors without a volley of curses from our neighbors.” – Missionary C. T. Studd
ONCE TO EVERY MAN AND NATION
Once to every man and nation
Comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood,
For the good or evil side;
Some great cause, God’s new Messiah,
Offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever
Twixt that darkness and that light.
Then to side with truth is noble,
When we share her wretched crust,
Ere her cause bring fame and profit,
And ‘tis prosperous to be just;
Then it is the brave man chooses
While the coward stands aside,
Till the multitude make virtue
Of the faith they had denied.
By the light of burning martyrs,
Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track,
Toiling up new Calvaries ever
With the cross that turns not back;
New occasions teach new duties,
Time makes ancient good uncouth;
They must upward still and onward,
Who would keep abreast of truth.
Though the cause of evil prosper,
Yet ‘tis truth alone is strong;
Though her portion be the scaffold,
And upon the throne be wrong:
Yet that scaffold sways the future,
And, behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow
Keeping watch above His own.
LookingtoJesus 