Daily Readings and Thought for October 28th. “WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN”
We live in a world which has largely pushed out of its’ mind any contemplation that there is a God, the Creator of their lives – and of all that exists. They therefore believe they can live as they please, and ‘enjoy ‘lifestyles’ and experiences in many different ways as long as they do not kill, deliberately injure or steal: no thought is given to the laws of God – since most do not believe there is a God!
But Paul was inspired to say there would come a time (how soon now?) “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” [2 Thess.1 v.7,8] To “know” God is to have a genuine relationship with him, day by day. Paul told the Galatians, “you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God” [4 v.9], he means, for them to realize they have a relationship with him – a two way relationship!
Our thoughts were prompted to travel along these lines by today’s readings in Acts and the efforts of the “rulers and elders” [Acts 4 v.5] to stop the apostles preaching about Jesus, but Peter bluntly tells them, “We must obey God rather than men.” He further tells them, “The God of our fathers raised Jesus” and “exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” [Acts 5 v.30,31]
Earlier, Peter told them Jesus had “become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” [4 v.11,12]
And that salvation will be forthose who not only say they believe in God and Jesus, but who also accept, in their hearts, the privilege that they “must obey God rather than men.”
This is more than ever necessary today when most do not even acknowledge there is a God – and true believers sense that many who say they think there is a God – do not “know God” ! Jesus is coming to deal with those” who do not know God” as well as those who do not “obey God.”
