DITW – Do What is Right – June 21, 2018
There is no doubt in my mind that those who follow Christianity are prone to look strange or do things that simply don’t make sense to others around them. In fact, some of the things that my family and I do, such as housing 7 children, are weird enough on their own, but it seems completely normal to us because there are many ways that we hope these things will reflect the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Luckily, we live in a country that is tolerant (albeit less so each year) of our beliefs and so our punishment is rarely more than social stigma. However, in the days of the apostles, they were constantly under fire as my reading discussed. The Sanhedrin were tired of Paul and John teaching about Jesus and tried again to stop them: “We gave you strict orders never again to preach in this man’s name!” he said. ‘Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him and you want to make us responsible for his death!’ But Peter and the apostles replied, ‘We must obey God rather than any other authority.” (Acts 5:28-29, NLT). As we can see, the original followers of Christ were completely unapologetic about their desire to teach of Jesus and to live as he lived, even if it meant death. Later, as one of the Sanhedrin was explaining why they should leave Paul alone, he brought out a salient point – if the people are opposed to your Christian life, it’s not you they are fighting against, but God. “But if it is from God, then you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!” (Acts 5:39, NLT). How much different would our lives be if we remembered who it was that allows us to live as we do, allows us to be ‘weird’ in they eyes of the public? Sure, we may have some rough times here and there, but God is in all of those things. One thing’s for sure, God is the authority that guides our lives and no man can conquer that. As Proverbs reminds us: “People may be right in their own eyes but the Lord examines their heart. The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.” (Proverbs 21:2-3, NLT) In the end, God will judge each by their own lifestyles and he knows the lives we truly lead. “But the Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked;he will bring disaster to them.” (Proverbs 21:12, NLT). So we should do our best to serve others and live as Christ instructed for the plans of God will always be helped by God.