The Influencers

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

THE INFLUENCERS

Acts 5:17-24

17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." 21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin — the full assembly of the elders of Israel — and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 "We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside." 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of this.

NIV

It is no wonder the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled. They put the apostles in jail, the door was locked, the guards were at the door, and yet when they came to get the apostles, no one was in the cell. It is a bit strange that the angel opened the jail doors and brought them out, yet the doors were locked. There was something supernatural that happened: the doors were securely locked and the guards at the doors, yet the apostles walked out because the angel brought them out. Once again, we see the high priest and all his associates, who were Sadducees, filled with jealousy. They wanted to be the leaders. They wanted people to follow their way of life. They wanted to be the influencer. The problem was that the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, and the apostles were teaching the full message of a new life, which included the resurrection of Jesus and that all who believe in the name of Jesus will experience the same resurrection. This is not just a hope of all believers, but it is the reality of the new life in Jesus. We know the scriptures talk about hope in Christ, and even the definition of faith uses the things hoped for yet not seen, but we cannot help but think in terms of fact rather than hope. Because we take Jesus's words as absolute truth, we do not hope, but know without a doubt that although we die, we will live. That is when this body finally gives out, and we must leave it behind and be present with our Lord. Someday, our bodies will be resurrected into a glorified form, and we will join back up with them to live in the new city of Jerusalem with the Lord forever. In a way, we feel sorry for those who are like the Sadducees, who do not believe in a resurrection. What is the purpose of life, if not to know Jesus as Lord and Savior? It is sad to think we are born, live a pitiful life, and die, and that is the end of the story. Of course, some non-believers think that because they are a good person, they will go to heaven, but they are sadly mistaken; they will perish, unless they confess with their mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in their hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead. Anyone who believes in Jesus, who is influenced by Jesus, will be saved. That is the big difference. Who is the influencer of our lives, men or God? The next question is, who are we influencing for Jesus?