With a Subtitle: This a warning to Christians to examine themselves before condemning a darkening culture.
A brief Excerpt: Acts 12:4 recounts Peter’s imprisonment in a time of rising hostility toward believers. This reflection challenges Christians not only to recognize persecution around them, but also to humbly examine their own hearts before God.
Scripture
Our verse for today comes from Acts 12:4, “And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.”
Background
I guess for us to be able to relate, it would have to be around Easter or Christmas. And someone in political power would have to be less than agreeable with the church and perhaps more specifically Christians. And during this season of religious significance, this person of power would then decide to take action such that it cost the life of one of the Christians’ most beloved, well-respected, and influential leaders. And the consequences of this persecution would be many. The other citizens, those who didn’t care for the Christians either, were secretly and publicly pleased that one of those religious zealots had been taken down. And the authority, seeing this swell of support and agreement, would then move to capitalize on the public endorsement and imprison the one whom most all Christians considered to be their best leader and truest servant of Christ, with the intent of having him terminated once the holidays had passed. But the consequences would not end there. Despite one death and the shackling of another to prison guards while waiting on death row, the beleaguered Christians would have a response, too. Or would they?
Application
This tale of the murder of James and the imprisonment of Peter, two of the three closest apostles to Jesus, does not feel like it happened 2,000 years ago, does it? Even in our land, which began as the bastion of religious and political freedom, we Christians know that the past has passed, and the present appears to be heading towards a darker future. Some call it judgment, especially those who think they are undeserving of it. Others call it the beginning of the end, as if our country is what the end times is hinged upon. I don’t know, and that’s an understatement. I do know that Jesus said He didn’t know the time of His return. I also know God’s word says that love does no wrong to a neighbor, that Christians should forgive, not worry, pray for our leaders and enemies, love our wives, speak only words that build up and deliver grace, be kind, and put away bitterness and wrath. And I know I fail miserably on all accounts. Sounds like the nation needs to be saved from people like me as much as anyone else.
Charge
As we seek Him today, place yourself under the scrutiny that so badly wants to find the specks in others’ eyes.
Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words
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