“Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, ‘Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.’ ” (Acts 4:18–20, NIV84)

Peter and John had been arrested for preaching the Gospel and healing in the name of Jesus. The next day, the religious leaders, not knowing what to do with them, warned them to stop teaching about Jesus. Peter and John basically answered them with a question. They asked the religious leaders to judge what the right thing to do is from God’s perspective. Should they obey God or men? Now, the reason I bring that point up is because the religious leaders should have had God’s perspective in mind from the very beginning. Remember, they’re religious leaders. But they didn’t! And often, we don’t either. We get so wrapped up in debates and arguments that the only thing we care about is our perspective. We will fight to the end about our take on something when God’s take is all that really matters.

The disciples ended up telling the religious leaders that they couldn’t stop witnessing to what they had seen and heard from Jesus Christ. They needed to continue to see their reality through the eyes of God and remain obedient to His Word. Our resolve should be no different. We need to remain obedient to God’s Word. We need to strive to see things in our lives from His perspective. We must train ourselves to be discerning. And most often, we will be called to walk by faith rather than by sight. The disciples had no clue what the powerful religious leaders might do once they took their stand, but they took their stand nonetheless. May we be as bold and committed to ask the question, “what’s right in God’s eyes?” — and then act upon God’s perspective.

Peace!

Pastor Tom

www.firmlyrooted.church