We must obey God rather than men...

The 90 day NT challenge reading takes us through Romans chapter 14.

Acts 5: 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.

This week, as we are celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, we are reminded that He was first rejected, executed, and then raised to new life. Our belief is possible today because of the rejection of our Savior by His own people. Since the Jewish people rejected Christ the rest of the peoples of the world have been granted the opportunity to be grafted into this family of God. However, the rejection of Christ continues today.

Acts 28: 23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. 25 And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: 26 “‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” 27 For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. ’ 28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”

After Paul quoted this saying most the people stopped listening to him. It is still the greatest privilege in the world to have our ears and hearts opened to the things of God. To be able to welcome His Holy Spirit into our life and receive correction and encouragement from God and His people. Think it not strange when we feel the resistance against the things of God. There were religious people in Jesus' day that crucified him and there are both the religious and the unbelievers today who will do the same to us. There is no man or worldly system today that should stop us from obeying God's great commission to each one of us. "Go ye into all the world"... Our only responsibility at the end of the day is to keep our eyes and hearts on Jesus and to fulfill the mission He has given to us. Make sure today you are * OBEYING GOD*  and are *ON MISSION*! PJ