‘You Judge’

‘You Judge’

But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.

Acts 4:19

The mission of the Gospel has always encountered opposition. In the days of the rapid spread of the Gospel in Jerusalem, this opposition was constant and intense. The context of our text is Peter preaching Christ to the religious rulers. They were madly against the preaching of Christ, and against the disciples for doing it. Therefore, we read, ‘But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.’”  Our text today is Peter’s response to that opposition. Here is his logic: ‘The choice you are presenting us is to stop preaching Christ, which is what He told us to do, or continue to preach Christ regardless of what you say. You judge whose will is more important.’  There is only one right conclusion.  Christ’s Word and Will supercedes the word and will of human authority. So it has ever been, so it is, and so it will ever be. If we proclaim Christ, we will receive opposition. It will come in various forms and from multiple directions. Some of the worst critics will be the most overtly religious. In spite of this opposition, here is the crunch issue:  Will we obey Christ, and be loyal to Him and His clear directive, or will we ‘go along to get along?’ There is no real alternative which will allow us to keep our integrity. ‘We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’ Christ, not man, is King. We have His Word, and know His Will. Therefore, we look to Him, and make much of Him.

Our All-Powerful and All-Wise God,
we praise You that You have clearly revealed Your Will.
We rejoice that it is our great privilege to carry out Your Will
by making much of Christ.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning