Acts 5:17-20
But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."
Oh this has been a terrible week at work thus far! I really cannot stand the fact that I'm being blamed for problems that have nothing to do with me, and what's worse is the fact that the accuser is the one who originated the cause of the problem! Talk about being unjustly treated and being blame innocently. Times like this, I really want to just stab idiots like these or at least throw a hex upon them.
In an increasingly secular and ungodly culture, I wonder how many of us Christians wonder about our role and duty as we live in the secular and cannot just curse and swear with glee like the ungodly. Should we lobby for fairness that should belonged to us who are working responsibly and fairly? With the unfairness of the world, how do we make any effort to live with a Christian perspective and attitude? The Bible speaks clearly about our duty, and it's all about governing -- governing our character.
If we read the passage in Acts, the disciples were unfairly treated and persecuted because people did not like to hear what they were saying. However, instead of just rescuing the disciples and allowing them to flee and hide, the angel charged the apostles to go back to the temple and pick up where they left off: Don't lower the flag. Don't soften the message. Don't get strategic or subtle or clever. Just get back to doing what you are called to do. "And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach" (v.21). Peter and John went right back to doing what God had called them to do. In spite of the religious leaders' attempts to douse the passion of the early church, Acts 6:7 tells us that, "The word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem."
Yes, it is an unfair world where we are to live and survive in. However, we must take heart that no one can stop what God is doing and wants to get done. No matter what move evil makes, God trumps it, and His purposes move forward. His hands are never tied. His message is never muted. No matter what opposition is thrown in its path, when the church of Jesus Christ is what it's intended it to be, it is flat-out an unstoppable force for God.
So even though I knew that it was to be crummy days with never ending problems and blames being hurled at me, as I spent some time walking out of my desk for toilet breaks or to my other colleague's table, I reminded myself "breathe, there's nothing more that you can do and all I can do is rely on God to aid me in this circumstance so that everything would work out well in my favour and God would eventually justify me".
May we never get sucked in by the problems and unjust situations that are before us. Always remember that the plans and purposes of God are always bigger and are meant to accomplish the Glory that is due to Him.
Blessings,
M.
"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)
09 October 2007
Arrested But Not Defeated
Acts 5:17-20
But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."
Oh this has been a terrible week at work thus far! I really cannot stand the fact that I'm being blamed for problems that have nothing to do with me, and what's worse is the fact that the accuser is the one who originated the cause of the problem! Talk about being unjustly treated and being blame innocently. Times like this, I really want to just stab idiots like these or at least throw a hex upon them.
In an increasingly secular and ungodly culture, I wonder how many of us Christians wonder about our role and duty as we live in the secular and cannot just curse and swear with glee like the ungodly. Should we lobby for fairness that should belonged to us who are working responsibly and fairly? With the unfairness of the world, how do we make any effort to live with a Christian perspective and attitude? The Bible speaks clearly about our duty, and it's all about governing -- governing our character.
If we read the passage in Acts, the disciples were unfairly treated and persecuted because people did not like to hear what they were saying. However, instead of just rescuing the disciples and allowing them to flee and hide, the angel charged the apostles to go back to the temple and pick up where they left off: Don't lower the flag. Don't soften the message. Don't get strategic or subtle or clever. Just get back to doing what you are called to do. "And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach" (v.21). Peter and John went right back to doing what God had called them to do. In spite of the religious leaders' attempts to douse the passion of the early church, Acts 6:7 tells us that, "The word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem."
Yes, it is an unfair world where we are to live and survive in. However, we must take heart that no one can stop what God is doing and wants to get done. No matter what move evil makes, God trumps it, and His purposes move forward. His hands are never tied. His message is never muted. No matter what opposition is thrown in its path, when the church of Jesus Christ is what it's intended it to be, it is flat-out an unstoppable force for God.
So even though I knew that it was to be crummy days with never ending problems and blames being hurled at me, as I spent some time walking out of my desk for toilet breaks or to my other colleague's table, I reminded myself "breathe, there's nothing more that you can do and all I can do is rely on God to aid me in this circumstance so that everything would work out well in my favour and God would eventually justify me".
May we never get sucked in by the problems and unjust situations that are before us. Always remember that the plans and purposes of God are always bigger and are meant to accomplish the Glory that is due to Him.
Blessings,
M.
"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)
But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."
Oh this has been a terrible week at work thus far! I really cannot stand the fact that I'm being blamed for problems that have nothing to do with me, and what's worse is the fact that the accuser is the one who originated the cause of the problem! Talk about being unjustly treated and being blame innocently. Times like this, I really want to just stab idiots like these or at least throw a hex upon them.
In an increasingly secular and ungodly culture, I wonder how many of us Christians wonder about our role and duty as we live in the secular and cannot just curse and swear with glee like the ungodly. Should we lobby for fairness that should belonged to us who are working responsibly and fairly? With the unfairness of the world, how do we make any effort to live with a Christian perspective and attitude? The Bible speaks clearly about our duty, and it's all about governing -- governing our character.
If we read the passage in Acts, the disciples were unfairly treated and persecuted because people did not like to hear what they were saying. However, instead of just rescuing the disciples and allowing them to flee and hide, the angel charged the apostles to go back to the temple and pick up where they left off: Don't lower the flag. Don't soften the message. Don't get strategic or subtle or clever. Just get back to doing what you are called to do. "And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach" (v.21). Peter and John went right back to doing what God had called them to do. In spite of the religious leaders' attempts to douse the passion of the early church, Acts 6:7 tells us that, "The word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem."
Yes, it is an unfair world where we are to live and survive in. However, we must take heart that no one can stop what God is doing and wants to get done. No matter what move evil makes, God trumps it, and His purposes move forward. His hands are never tied. His message is never muted. No matter what opposition is thrown in its path, when the church of Jesus Christ is what it's intended it to be, it is flat-out an unstoppable force for God.
So even though I knew that it was to be crummy days with never ending problems and blames being hurled at me, as I spent some time walking out of my desk for toilet breaks or to my other colleague's table, I reminded myself "breathe, there's nothing more that you can do and all I can do is rely on God to aid me in this circumstance so that everything would work out well in my favour and God would eventually justify me".
May we never get sucked in by the problems and unjust situations that are before us. Always remember that the plans and purposes of God are always bigger and are meant to accomplish the Glory that is due to Him.
Blessings,
M.
"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)
