Thought for May 13

 History:

• 609: Pope Boniface I turns the Pantheon into a Catholic Church
• 1607: Jamestown colonist attend first prayer service in Virginia
• 1828: Evangelist David Marks asks the audience what he should preach on. Someone shouts "nothing." He preaches on the fact that without Christ we can be nothing and we have nothing.
• 1830: Republic of Ecuador founded
• 1865: Battle of Palmito Ranch is last battle of the Civil War
• 1913: First 4-engine airplane built and flown
• 1916: Lafayette Escadrille sees first combat action at Verdun
• 1917: First reported appearance of Mary to the children at Fatima
• 1950: Diner's Ckub issues first credit cards
• 1958: Velcro trademark registered
• 1973: Bobby Riggs beats Margaret Court on Mother's Day
• 1978: Joie Chitwood drives a Chevette 5.6 miles on two wheels
• 1981: Pope John Paul II shot and critically wounded
• 2004: Final episode of "Frasier"
• 2019: Felicity Hoffman pleads guilty in college admissions scandal
• 2020: Every African country reports Covid cases

• Born: Arthur Sullivan [Gilbert & Sullivan], Daphne du Maurier ["Rebecca"], Joe Louis, Bea Arthur, Jim Jones, Richie Valens, Mary Wells, Blue Lou Marini [sax player], Stevie Wonder, Dennis Rodman, Stephen Cobert, Lari White, Robert Pattison
• Died: Cyrus McCormick, Gary Cooper, Dan Blocker, Bob Wills, Gene Sarazen, Donald Duck Dunn [bass player in the "Blues Brothers"], Joyce Brothers, Doris Day

Thought:

Today I am looking at one additional verse I underlined in Acts 4--"Now Lord, take note of their threats and grant that Thy bond-servants may speak Thy word with all confidence." [4:29] Peter and John had healed the man lame from birth, they had preached and 5000 had responded. They were confronted by the leaders and priests and told not to speak or preach in the name of Jesus. They said they could not stop and were threatened [4:21]. I read these verses and think about how we should respond to the threats made against Christians and our exercise of our faith. Notice--

• Peter and John did not respond to their threats. Boy, is this a lesson for me. My first response to the threats from the world is not to respond to the world. Reminds me to go to Ephesians 6:12--"Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." 
• Peter and John went to their companions in the faith [4:23]. Rather than argue with the world, we go to other believers for encouragement, strength, support. Now look at how the body of Christ reacts when threatened:
• We go to God, the Father, Creator [4:24] We recognize that He has all power, all authority, all wisdom. We are on the side of the Almighty--who should we fear?
• We recall scripture. Here the Christians went to Psalm 2. They have been threatened by the unbelieving nations, rulers, kings--those who have rejected God's Anointed [Jesus]. Recall those making the threats against Peter and John were the rulers, leaders, elders, and priests. Psalms 2 reminds us of God's response to the threats of unbelieving authorities--He laughs and scoffs [Psalms 2:4] We recall God's promises--in Psalms 2:7-9 our job is to tell God's story and His response is to give us an inheritance and break the enemy with a rod of iron. And the last verse of Psalm 2 reminds us that those who take refuge [from the threats of the world] in Him are truly blessed.
• We ask the Lord to deal with the threats [4:29] and give us confidence to speak for Him. Reminds me that my job is to bear witness and proclaim with confidence. "Confidence" means with fidelity. My willingness to proclaim is founded on my confidence in Jesus. I believe that He will act with fidelity [faithfulness] to every promise He made. And believing that gives me confidence to speak. 
• When we seek refuge in Him, are confident in Him, He fills us with the Holy Spirit and we speak for Him [4:31]

Today, when I am weak because of the threats of the world, Lord help me react like Peter and John--come to You for wisdom and strength; go to the Word; trust You to deal with the threats; speak boldly with confidence as guided by the Holy Spirit. 

Blessings

Larry

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