Acts 5:17-42 The Apostles Arrested and Freed

Here is another confrontation between the Apostles and the authorities. As Jesus had predicted, they would be hated in the world. Why? Well, the Sadducees were part of the established authority and they preached no resurrection. Also, they were jealous of the following the apostles were able to gather around them. Finally, the message of the apostles laid guilt upon them as they participated of Christ's crucifixion. Belief, jealousy, and guilt are only some reasons why the world stands against the Gospel. Even today, these three reasons still stand as powerful reasons to persecute the Christians and the Church. The world will do everything it can to silence the good news of the Gospel and stop it from spreading.

How did the Apostles react to the authorities' persecution? For one, they were submitted to the authorities. I don't see any attempts to even resist arrest. They did what they had to do and allowed the authorities to do what they had to do. No violence. No name calling. No animosities. The Apostles did not hesitate to obey even in the midst of great pressure. They were preaching and teaching when they were arrested the first time. They were preaching and teaching when they were freed and commanded to continue to speak all the words of this Life by the angel. They went out to preach and teach after they were beaten and charged not to speak in the name of Jesus by the authorities. Their motto was: "We must obey God rather than men."

What could motivate the apostles to risk their own safety for the sake of the Gospel? So much for Maslow's hierarchy of needs. According to Maslow, safety ranks way above self-actualization; second only to physiological needs. Yet we see the apostles giving their all to preach and teach the gospel of the kingdom. Safety needs pale in comparison to the need to obey God. The apostles found all their needs met by God. They found joy even in the midst of their lack of safety. My greatest need is not physiological or even safety. My greatest need is God and he is the provider of all my other needs.

It is quite idolatrous of me to have my needs to outrank God. It is unbecoming of the kingdom of God to think that my service to others is contingent upon the satisfaction of my needs. If I make God my everything and obedience to him my priority, then I am able to serve despite my hunger. I will be able to serve despite unsafe surroundings and threats. Obedience to God becomes my food. God himself becomes my safety. Iam able to give to others because my needs are satisfied by my God.

Dear Lord, may I never make your gifts and provision a requirement to obey and serve you. Make me see that you are all I need. Amen.

Matthew 9:27-31 Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

As Jesus continues his journey, two blind men follow him crying out for mercy. It is interesting to me that Jesus doesn't stop right away and respond to their cry. Ministry is not about running to meet people's immediate needs, as important as that is. It is about understanding your mission and using your resources as best you can to fulfill that mission. Jesus was interested in fulfilling people's greatest need of salvation and time was of the essence. 

Again, the issue of faith comes up again. Jesus wants to see faith before he acts in favor of people's needs. Ministers should take this element seriously. Are people coming to have their belly filled, or do they truly trust God? Resources in ministry are limited. We should consider resource allocation according to the faith we discern from people. Am I throwing pearls to the pigs in the ministry? Am I being a good steward?

Due to the mission that Jesus was to accomplish: salvation of humanity, he understood that too much fame early on in his ministry would be an obstacle. So he sternly requires them to be silent. It is hard to picture Jesus asking people to be quiet about something that transformed their lives! The fact that they couldn't keep it a secret despite Jesus' stern warnings speaks volumes of how life-changing it was. I don't have to force myself to be a witness. Jesus has done something life-changing for me and that should move me to speak.

Needs, faith, and witnessing - essential elements in ministry. I need to focus on the greatest need of people and not be distracted by the immediate needs. Immediate needs can swamp any ministry; any life. I need to nurture my personal faith and be discerning of faith in people's lives - even potential faith. I want to invest the resources God has given me in lives that will multiply the investment. Witnessing is the natural and inevitable result of seeing God meet my needs when I seek him with faith.

Father, I need you. Help me learn from your ministry. Keep me focused on the main thing: people's salvation; people's greatest need. Grow my faith as I seek you daily. Fuel my testimony as I perceive your work in my life and fire up my desire to tell others of your goodness.