Day 158 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – 1 Kings 2:1–3:2; Acts 5:1-42; Psalm 125:1-5; Proverbs 16:25
______
The Days of David Drew Nigh
Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; and keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: that the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
1 Kings 2:1-4
______
By the Hands of the Apostles
And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
Acts 5:12-16
The apostles were ministering and seeing many signs and wonders. They were ALL in one accord. People brought their sick and laid them on the streets so that even their shadows would pass over them. It wasn’t just a few, it was a multitude, and this passage tells us that these were healed – EVERY ONE.
A couple of words stood out to me again today. ALL (ALL means ALL) and EVERY ONE (EVERY ONE means EVERY single one). All the people were in one accord, and everyone brought to them for sickness or deliverance was healed.
We are His Witnesses
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Acts 5:29-32
Obey God rather than men.
A Pharisee Named Gamaliel
When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; and said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
Acts 5:33-39
Gamaliel was a Pharisee. He was a doctor of the law and a man of great esteem. Here we read that he encouraged the other Pharisees to show leniency to the apostles of Jesus Christ. In Acts 22:3, we find that Gamaliel is a teacher of a very zealous student name Saul.
I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilici, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. – Acts 22:3
They Ceased Not to Teach and Preach Jesus Christ
And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Acts 5:40-42
The Pharisees agreed with what Gamaliel had to say, but they still beat the apostles and commanded them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus. The apostles’ response was to rejoice that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And the Bible says that the did not cease to teach and preach Jesus.
When we are faced with suffering shame for His name, do we rejoice? You say we don’t suffer shame, but some do – in their families, in their workplaces, in their neighborhoods. Some, like these apostles, suffer even in their churches. Have you ever been thought to be a little overzealous in your worship or your praise? How about in your prayer life? The way you preach or teach?
I have, and I know others that have. The issue is not whether we will suffer shame. There will be times that we will suffer shame or rejection or “correction” to make others feel more comfortable. The question is afterward, do we back away? Do we back away and tone down our praise and worship or our prayer life? Do we cease to teach and preach Jesus? We ought always to obey God, rather than man, and REJOICE that we are counted worthy to suffer for His Name!!! JESUS!!!
______
The Lord is Round About His People
They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.
Psalm 125:1-2
______
There is a Way That Seemeth Right
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Proverbs 16:25
