Daily Devotional
Word of the Day
Obeying God or Man?
Pastor Scott
Sunday, January 23, 2005
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"But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye."
(Acts 4:19)
"[Is it] right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, [you judge]. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19-20). Is that your response? Are you giving honor to whom honor is due? Yes, we are to obey the laws of the land--until they say, "You can't speak the name of Jesus." Then I have a question you: Tell me, is it better to obey God or man? The Scripture then tells us that they gathered together and sought God. As they prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken (4:31). "And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all" (4:33).
Honor to whom honor is due. Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. It's tragic to see what has happened here in our country; and it's only going to deteriorate. We will become more unique and more weird, but if God is for us, who can be against us? I seek not the honor of men, but I want to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Allow the Spirit of God to search your heart. How does this apply to you? Where are you in this spectrum of those that profess and those that obey? The Pharisees came and said, "We know God." Jesus said, "You seek honor one of another; you compare yourselves by yourselves." If you are a hearer of the Word and not a doer, you are deceived, James says. What are you doing? Are you stronger than you were last week? Are you in greater pursuit than you were last week? Are you more dependent on God's grace and mercy to finish the work in you? You can't do it. It is He that works in us to will and to do His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). Is it less about you and more about the kingdom? If it is, you will be able to stand in this hour.
Lord, You are the faithful God. You will never leave us nor forsake us nor leave us comfortless. If we seek You with all of our hearts, we will find You. If You are for us, no one could be against us. We are for You, Father, but we need more grace to know You more and to pursue You as the hart pants for the brook.
Father, we do thank You for Your presence and Your love for us. Father, You have been so good to us. We are thankful for the opportunity to live in this time of Your soon coming. We thank You for the liberties that we have known and still have, but we don't trust in the arm of the flesh or the ordinances of men but in the power of God. We will throw the windows open and pray. We will proclaim Your name. When those people in Acts were taken and beaten, they came forth rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer for Your namesake. Lord, we are a people that have been raised up in a comfortable generation. Make us strong, make us warriors; change the treasures of our heart. Let us seek the kingdom of God and Your righteousness first. Let us pursue You with all of our might and press toward the mark, the prize, the high calling of God that's in Christ Jesus. Give us grace and strength to pour out our lives for Your honor, that men would see the good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven. For it, Father, we will give You all of the praise, in Jesus' name. Amen.