Today's Devotion

November 23, 2010

The Power of a Changed Life

As I have written before, I am not big on sharing personal testimonies when presenting the Gospel [I am not against it], but I am big on having a personal testimony. You can say a lot of things and most people won’t make much of it, but live a changed life and the power of God is undeniable. This is what we see here today in the boldness of the Peter and his friends.

“And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: "If we this day are judged for a good deed [done] to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, "let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. "This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, "What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them [is] evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny [it]. "But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name." And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.” (Acts 4:5-22 NKJV)

Peter is no longer the one running and hiding from the opposition. Instead he is leading the troops into the battle. Peter doesn’t waver one bit when placed under scrutiny. When interrogated by the rulers, he boldly declares the name of Christ to those who had the power to punish him severely.

The rulers after seeing his boldness, and realizing that he and the others had been with Jesus, and seeing the man healed, could say nothing. Oh, they didn’t admit that they saw what God had done in the lives of these men. No, they put on their best lying face and commanded them never to speak of Christ again. However, thank God that by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in the writing of Scripture, the back-room conversation is recorded for us.

Let us learn this lesson. While men may openly deny the power of God, they cannot ignore it secretly. What God has done in you is visible if you are abiding in him. Of course if the salt has lost its flavor it’s not good for anything (Luke 13:34-35).

However, if you have been walking in holiness, you may have great boldness to know that what you share with your loved ones this holiday season will have impact. Yes, they may laugh it off or dismiss it with some condescending comment, but they cannot deny what God has done.

The words of God spoken from holy lips will cut like a surgeon’s scalpel. With every witness they will be forced to make a decision either to accept Christ or reject Him. Just a word here and there will stir their fears. Hopefully, by the grace of God, they will eventually turn and embrace the truth to be set free; but, ignore you they cannot!

There is no need to be overbearing; just be steadfast. Peter and John didn’t argue with the rulers. They just said, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

Therefore, friends, continue to speak the truth in love while it may be spoken. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?