GAMALIEL'S COUNSEL
ACTS 5:38-41 NKJV
38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God."
40 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
So I missed a chapter when I was writing my devotionals for this year. I have been one chapter ahead for this week. Today we catch up, and tomorrow we are back on track.
Once again, the apostles are in hot water with the Jewish leaders. The Sadducees were in power. They were the sect of the religion that did not believe in the spiritual realm or supernatural. The challenge to that belief was the fact that there was a major healing revival going on in Jerusalem. They were laying sick people in the streets, and as Peter just walked past, people were getting healed as his shadow fell on them.
The leaders put the apostles in prison, but an angel of God let them out. Now the leaders have a double quandary on their hands. So, they decided to kill the apostles.
But in our passage for today, we find a very wise teacher among the Jewish leaders named Gamaliel. His advice to the counsel was very sound.
Gamaliel reminded the leaders of men who had risen in the past and led movements. When these men died, their uprisings came to an end. These movements were the work of men.
But as Gamaliel warned, if this work that the apostles were involved in, the gospel of Christ was a man-founded work, it would come to nothing. If it was of God, it could not be stopped because we would be fighting against God.
So they beat the apostles and let them go. They left the counsel rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for representing the Lord.
APPLICATION:
Over the years, I have encouraged people who did not like our church to just leave it alone. My reasoning was the same as Gamaliel's.
If our church was founded on me, it would come to nothing. But if our church was a work of God, it would not be overcome by their opposition.
Gamaliel's counsel is appropriate today as it was then. We may not agree with how everyone does church. But if God is behind the work, it will be sustained. So, we leave it alone. No need to fight against God.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father I am for You and for Your work. It does not have to be my style. If you are in it I am for it.