[Daily Devotion] January 18th, 2017

[Daily Devotion] January 18th, 2017

Today's Scripture

Question #13 – Acts 5:27-32    Do I disobey God in anything?

27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,[a] yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.[b] 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” 

Larry's Devotion

As we start 2017, we wanted to examine the 22 questions of John Wesley. He challenged his followers to ask these rigorous self-examining questions, as they walk toward holiness. For the next four weeks, we will examine each question, daily. Also, I encourage you to read the ‘One Year Bible Reading Plan’ suggested by Bishop Sharma Lewis. 

What the passage says

Earlier in Acts 5, the religious leaders at the Temple attempted to exert their authority over Jesus’ disciples.  They arrested them and put them in prison.  Despite the disciple miraculous escape from prison through God’s angel, the authorities persist, reminding the disciples not to teach in Jesus’ name (vs 28).  The disciples respond that they are bound to obey God above men (vs 29) by testifying to what they had witnessed (vs 32); their witness being that Jesus had been raised from the dead (vs 30) to bring Israel to repentance and forgiveness of their sins (vs 31).

What does the passage say to me/us?

Who has real authority over my (your) life? Whose voice do I (you) hear most loudly? Which voice do I listen to when the different voices in my life are in conflict?

Question #13 is challenging, “Do I disobey God in anything?” Ouch! This question is not fair. Of course I don’t. In order to obey God in everything, I need to know what God wants and expects of me. There are time-tested tools to use to help me learn…the Bible, worship, fellowship with other believers and mission. Do I put a priority on using these tools to better understand what God expects of me? Does my daily living reflect the principles of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20), the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) and seeking to bring the lost home (Luke 15)? Am I prepared, ready and able to tell the story of how I have witnessed God intersecting with my life and others through the grace of Jesus? Am I really loving God and God’s people with all my heart, soul, mind and strength?

“Do I disobey God in anything?” This question convicts me of my sin, my disobedience. I wish I could skip it and go on to the next question. But, praise God, right then is when I hear Jesus voice calling me, “I am still on your side. Where you are weak, I am strong. Where you fail, I have already won.” Though still a disobedient sinner, in Jesus I am renewed, made clean. And I can rejoice, listen, pray and seek where God is leading me, looking for someone to tell my story to, how blessed a day it is living in God’s world!

Submitted by Larry Dickenson

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