Despite the circumstances
However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. Acts 4:4
Sometime the circumstances of my life do not seem ideal. There are times when I feel disappointed in the things going on around me. In those moments, I rarely “feel” like encouraging other people. In fact, what I do consider is that I am in no position to bless or inspire someone. Mostly, when the outward conditions are against me, I feel deflated and drained of energy. I find myself thinking: I don’t have the capacity to offer someone some of God’s goodness or why would that person want any help from me. I am the one that needs encouragement right now. Ironically, in those instances, if I take the step of faith to help or reach out to someone in need, I actually feel refreshed and better about what I am going through. Suddenly I see possibilities and hope for the situations surrounding me.
In today’s reading, Peter and John were ministering to a large group of people, but it didn’t go so well for them. They were arrested and put into custody. However, despite the circumstances of their arrest, many came to believe. In fact there were 5000 added to the church that day. If Peter and John had kept quiet because they did not want to be harassed by the authorities, there would not have been that growth in the kingdom. Even in the middle of the interrogation with the high priest, Peter spoke in the name of the Lord Jesus.
The truth is, it doesn’t matter what the circumstances of life are each moment of the day. Life is going to happen, but we must remain strong and steadfast in our faith in order to become an effective witness and accomplish God’s plan. Each day there may be new obstacles to encounter, but the mission is to stay focused and keep your aim set on the purpose you are given breath today. Let the winds of the storms around you blow as you stay steady on your course.
Today I want to encourage you to stay on mission no matter what circumstances of life you are going through right now. Life is full of twists and turns, ups and downs, ins and outs but those cannot take our attention from what is important at this time. As God’s people and ambassadors in this world, we have to keep moving forward and taking new ground for the kingdom of heaven. Just as the beginning church in the book of Acts stood up and moved forward each day amid extreme pressure to be silent, we too must let the world around us know there is hope and there is a future of blessing and God’s goodness available to step into. Pray for God’s grace today to step into His strength and let all people know that God loves them and wants to include them in His great plan of redemption despite all circumstances they are up against!
Today’s scripture reading: Acts 4:1-12
1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,
2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.
4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes,
6 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.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:
9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,
10 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.
11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
The Daily Dose 