June 19
Bible Reading: Acts 4:13-22
Acts 4:19-20, “But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
Simply for preaching the gospel, authorities kept John Bunyan, author of the Christian classic “Pilgrim’s Progress,” in prison for many years. They offered to set him free, but only if he promised not to preach again. His response? “If you let me out of prison today, I will preach again tomorrow, by the grace of God.” And when they reiterated, they would not let him out unless he promised not to preach, he bravely answered, “If I lie in jail till the moss grows on my eyelids, I will never conceal the truth which God has taught me. “
Peter and John had upset the religious elite in Jerusalem. Those in power were much annoyed. They arrested Peter and John and had them thrown in jail. Peter and John had every reason to be afraid, but instead, they courageously proclaimed the truth. By the Spirit, they feared God more than they feared their persecutors.
I can recall situations in my life where I should have stood up for Jesus but didn’t. I failed, out of fear of what others might say or think, to take advantage of an opportunity to boldly speak of that which I firmly believe. You can probably relate. Whenever the temptation arises to remain silent instead of speaking up for Jesus, reflect on the example set by Peter and John. On a previous occasion, Peter had denied even knowing Jesus, but Spirit-filled Peter had the Spirit-borne power to confidently proclaim the truth. Through the centuries, many have stood in Peter’s place, of needing to decide what to say when told not to speak of Jesus. Jesus commissioned us “to be His witnesses” (Acts 1:8). It’s better to listen to Him.
“Will you be bold in your witness by giving lost sinners God’s Word? Jesus will honor your service, and sinners will surely be stirred.” — Henry G. Bosch
SO SEND I YOU
So send I you to labour unrewarded
To serve unpaid, unloved, unsought, unknown
To bear rebuke, ot suffer scorn and scoffing
So send I you to toil for Me alone
So send I you to bind the bruised and broken
Over wandering souls to work, to weep, to wake
To bear the burdens of a world a-weary
So send I you to suffer for My sake
So send I you to loneliness and longing
With hart a-hungering for tthe loved and known
Forsaking kin and kindred, friend and dear one
So send I you to know My love alone
So send I you to leave your life’s ambition
To die to dear desire, self-will resign
To labour long, and love where men revile you
So send I you to lsoe you life in Mine
So send I you to hearts made hard by hatred
To eyes made blind because they will not see
To spend, though it be blood to spend and spare not
So send I you to taste of Calvary
LookingtoJesus 