Reference Passage: Acts chapter 12 verses 1 to 24
Just follow the link to read the passage online here
My humble request to all my readers would be to prayerfully read the Scripture at least once before proceeding.
Moving on to verse 3 of our passage, we see a strange irony. The Jews were celebrating an ancient religious festival of tremendous significance. Yet, they seemed to find enjoyment in the fact that someone who claimed to worship God had just been put to death. Given their orthodoxy, we could understand their fervour to some extent. However, did they reach their decision after a thorough examination of their own Holy Writ?
Sometimes, I think we're living in a similar contradiction today. We love to sing God's praises and attend Sunday meetings; we even do not mind distributing a few tracts once in a while. However, the moment someone comes along and says something thats contrary to our perceptions, we want to shoot him down. We shut our ears to anyone who admonishes our foolish living; we're ready to stone the Stephens who stand up and question our unrestrained lifestyle. We dismiss people saying, "Don't get so preachy, man..." But I ask: Is God our sole point of moral reference? Do we care enough for righteousness? Jesus foresaw this, when He warned, "They shall put you out of the synagogues: the time comes, that whosoever kills you will think that he does God service." (John 16:2)
The king had gone to great lengths to keep Peter bound. The ratio was sixteen to one: King Herod had very high regard for Peter's abilities to escape, it seems. However, a very chilling question surfaced as I reflected on the fourth verse. Would sixteen soldiers be sufficient to drive away my faith and my Christianity? Would the enemy be able to arrive at a price tag to snatch away the precious truth in my life? We cannot even concieve today of having to suffer for our faith.
Recently, I was in a conversation with a friend of mine who hails from a well known Keralite family with a rich Christian heritage. As we pondered over the political climate in India and the rising challenges to the Gospel, he told me how it was impossible for him to accept persecution because of the influence his family has wielded in the past. To even imagine a time like that was close to impossible, even though the reality cannot be denied. Solomon says, "Buy the truth and do not sell it." (Proverbs 23:23) The truth must be so precious that come what may, we'd do all we can to acquire it and be unwilling to sell it off. Pain or pleasure, joy or sorrow - nothing must be big enough to sacrifice the truth for.
A story that I heard long ago comes to mind about Christian persecution in Romania. Once, a secret gathering of Christians was raided by the police. The commander promised freedom to all who would spit at the Bible that was laid at the entrance, on their way out. Slowly and reluctantly, the members of the congregation proceeded to their escape, each doing exactly as the commander said. Finally, only a girl was left behind. Weeping, she walked up to the Bible, took it up in her arms and began to wipe away the spit that had almost drenched it. Immediately, the roar of gunfire descended on her and she lay down her life for what she treasured more than her life itself - the true Word of God.
My intention is not to excite you emotionally. We just need to ask ourselves the right questions and seek God's mercy for all the lame excuses we put up when Christianity becomes tough going. "Surely God understands - do I have to be that serious? Come on, all those people had lives to live...families to feed, responibilities to fulfill...God wouldn't mind." I wonder how different the situation would have been if Jesus would play around before the Crucifixion hoping to find a way out. Maybe, we still haven't understood what it took to make our salvation possible.
Our Lord said, "He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (Mathew 10:38-39) I think that gives an indication of what He expects from us. It needn't necessarily be persecution - it could be choosing not to cheat in the exams even when cheating is the norm and you don't know a thing. Or it could mean sacrificing some of the pleasures that everyone else enjoys, for God's sake. I'm trembling myself when I write this for I'm aware of my own limitations. All I can do is kneel in His presence and ask Him to make me stronger.
Just follow the link to read the passage online here
My humble request to all my readers would be to prayerfully read the Scripture at least once before proceeding.
Moving on to verse 3 of our passage, we see a strange irony. The Jews were celebrating an ancient religious festival of tremendous significance. Yet, they seemed to find enjoyment in the fact that someone who claimed to worship God had just been put to death. Given their orthodoxy, we could understand their fervour to some extent. However, did they reach their decision after a thorough examination of their own Holy Writ?
Sometimes, I think we're living in a similar contradiction today. We love to sing God's praises and attend Sunday meetings; we even do not mind distributing a few tracts once in a while. However, the moment someone comes along and says something thats contrary to our perceptions, we want to shoot him down. We shut our ears to anyone who admonishes our foolish living; we're ready to stone the Stephens who stand up and question our unrestrained lifestyle. We dismiss people saying, "Don't get so preachy, man..." But I ask: Is God our sole point of moral reference? Do we care enough for righteousness? Jesus foresaw this, when He warned, "They shall put you out of the synagogues: the time comes, that whosoever kills you will think that he does God service." (John 16:2)
The king had gone to great lengths to keep Peter bound. The ratio was sixteen to one: King Herod had very high regard for Peter's abilities to escape, it seems. However, a very chilling question surfaced as I reflected on the fourth verse. Would sixteen soldiers be sufficient to drive away my faith and my Christianity? Would the enemy be able to arrive at a price tag to snatch away the precious truth in my life? We cannot even concieve today of having to suffer for our faith.
Recently, I was in a conversation with a friend of mine who hails from a well known Keralite family with a rich Christian heritage. As we pondered over the political climate in India and the rising challenges to the Gospel, he told me how it was impossible for him to accept persecution because of the influence his family has wielded in the past. To even imagine a time like that was close to impossible, even though the reality cannot be denied. Solomon says, "Buy the truth and do not sell it." (Proverbs 23:23) The truth must be so precious that come what may, we'd do all we can to acquire it and be unwilling to sell it off. Pain or pleasure, joy or sorrow - nothing must be big enough to sacrifice the truth for.
A story that I heard long ago comes to mind about Christian persecution in Romania. Once, a secret gathering of Christians was raided by the police. The commander promised freedom to all who would spit at the Bible that was laid at the entrance, on their way out. Slowly and reluctantly, the members of the congregation proceeded to their escape, each doing exactly as the commander said. Finally, only a girl was left behind. Weeping, she walked up to the Bible, took it up in her arms and began to wipe away the spit that had almost drenched it. Immediately, the roar of gunfire descended on her and she lay down her life for what she treasured more than her life itself - the true Word of God.
My intention is not to excite you emotionally. We just need to ask ourselves the right questions and seek God's mercy for all the lame excuses we put up when Christianity becomes tough going. "Surely God understands - do I have to be that serious? Come on, all those people had lives to live...families to feed, responibilities to fulfill...God wouldn't mind." I wonder how different the situation would have been if Jesus would play around before the Crucifixion hoping to find a way out. Maybe, we still haven't understood what it took to make our salvation possible.
Our Lord said, "He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (Mathew 10:38-39) I think that gives an indication of what He expects from us. It needn't necessarily be persecution - it could be choosing not to cheat in the exams even when cheating is the norm and you don't know a thing. Or it could mean sacrificing some of the pleasures that everyone else enjoys, for God's sake. I'm trembling myself when I write this for I'm aware of my own limitations. All I can do is kneel in His presence and ask Him to make me stronger.
To be continued...
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