Lasting Results

DEVOTION

THE BOOK OF ACTS

LASTING RESULTS

Acts 5:33-39

33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

NIV

It would seem the Sanhedrin had seen other uprisings before which had all failed because they were uprisings of men, of human origin. That is our life lesson from this narrative. Whenever we begin an activity that is from human origin it is bound to fail at some time, but if we are doing what God has directed us to do it will not be able to be stopped. This can apply to both our individual activities as well as our group activities as a church. Of course we have seen many individuals succeed in mighty ways acting from human origins. Mankind is capable of some great things. We have great minds, in the sciences, in the medical profession, in academia as well as in the business, military and political arenas. But this is not talking about the ordinary accomplishments of mankind, but rather uprisings against the established religious beliefs of the time. This is about spiritual activity rather than human activity. When we raise up against the human concept of religion but do it because of our own human concept of religion it will eventually fail. When new churches spring up because of dissension or division within they might have some success, but will eventually fail, at least in the eyes of God. They might even look successful but it may only be by human standards, unless they were directed by God to rise up against what was only from human origins to begin with. When we as individuals act within our human efforts as believers, doing deeds of righteousness, being involved in some service or ministry to the church or God we will eventually fall back, fail, give up and retreat back to what we did before we started. But if we have been called by God, directed by God to act, to serve, to do, what we will see is the hand of God at work in our lives. Yes, we might change our activities from time to time, depending on how God desires to use us at specific times, but we will also be about our Father’s business. Many of our activities although they may be good, if they are from human origin, when our life is over so will they be, but if what we do is directed by God our deeds will last far beyond our own lives. What the Apostles did, as directed by God has lasted for thousands of years past their lives. Man thinks in the temporal, but God thinks in the eternal. If our actions are from us, they too will be temporal, but if our actions are from God, they will be eternal. This applies to our spiritual actions such as our witness to unbelievers. If we witness in our human powers, it will not last, but if we witness as empowered by the Spirit our witness will have eternal effects. It also applies to our daily lives. If we live within human standards our lives will not last, but if we live within God’s standard our lives will be eternal. Whatever we do, if from human origin will not last, but what we do as directed and empowered by God will have lasting results.