Obey Who

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

OBEY WHO

Acts 5:27-32

27 Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead — whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

NIV

The High priest and all his associates really believed they were the ultimate authority over all the people. “We gave you strict orders”. Really? Where in the law of Moses was that order found? The priests were from the tribe of Levi, the chosen tribe to serve the Lord, and not to be in charge of the people. But as always men distort the truth to serve their own needs. Men corrupt power and power corrupts men. They did not have any biblically-based authority to give Peter and John any strict order regarding teaching about Jesus. It was all about their being threatened and the appearance that they were guilty of killing Jesus. They did not want the guilt, nor did they want anyone to see them as being guilty for they were holy men, religious men, upright and innocent of sin. The great façades men built to appear righteous continues through the ages, even to this day. However, this Sanhedrin was guilty, and they did not want to even admit it, even to themselves. Still, thinking they had the right and the power to give someone strict orders was beyond their calling, which was to serve the Lord, not be in control of people. Peter and John were right to say they must obey God rather than men. That is not to say we should disobey the law of our land, a law that is rightfully passed by those who are elected by the people to represent them in the government. But again, that is a rightful law of the land that was voted on in Congress with both houses agreeing and signed into law by the executive branch. Anything else is not a law of the land. Thus, we should obey things like a speed limit, or we should not commit a crime against a rightful law, such as stealing, murder, etc. God tells us to obey those who govern the law. However, when it comes to being told that we cannot worship the Lord, or teach about Jesus, then we must obey God despite the strict orders of men. It is right to declare that our sin, as well as all people's sin, put Jesus on that cross. We are all guilty of crucifying Jesus. It is the very reason he came so that he could redeem us all, to free us from the penalty of sin. If we declare this truth to a nonbeliever, they might become outraged and try to order us to keep silent, telling us we have no right to say those things. Have we succumbed to this social standard and remained silent so as to not offend anyone? Have we softened the message too much, saying only that Jesus loves them, trying to demonstrate it by loving them all the while they continue to live under the authority of the dark forces of evil? By not calling sin for what it is, disobedience to God, and the penalty of eternal death and damnation, are we actually obeying men rather than God? Have we lost that boldness? It is right to obey God rather than men and in doing so, we should follow the example of Peter and John by telling the truth about sin, about being guilty of sin, and how to find freedom from its penalty.