2008-09-08 13:41:00
"They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail" (Acts 5:18). "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).
Awhile back I saw a car with a number of bumper stickers pasted all over it. These cars get my attention since the owner is often strongly committed to a particular cause or viewpoint. I saw the familiar fish outline on the car. As I looked closely I thought I might find the IXTHUS expression connoting an ancient symbol for Christianity. But instead of IXTHUS it had Darwin in the middle of the fish. Other bumper stickers on the car flaunted expressions that mocked God and the Christian faith, boldly and unashamedly proclaiming the owner's particular humanist-based "faith".
Bumper stickers can be tacky but they also give us an opportunity to display a faith-based message to others. As a young Christian I remember a challenge to commitment seen on a bumper sticker, "If you were arrested for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you?"
In the daily text the early disciples had been arrested and unquestionably the ruthless religious authorities had enough evidence to convict them. The apostles had been very public in their witness for the Lord, unashamed in the proclamation of their testimony.
Following their arrest the Lord miraculously intervened and they were delivered from their prison cell by an angel. "But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.’Go, stand in the temple courts,' he said, 'and tell the people the full message of this new life'" (Acts 5:19, 20). They could have easily sneaked out of town through the dark night and escaped the fury of the high priest and the Sanhedrin. "But at daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people" (5:21). They were not afraid or ashamed to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Today, let us who bear the name of Christ, without fear or shame, follow the disciples' example. I consider once again that old saying, "If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" I've never sought to be convicted of a crime, but I pray that others do accuse me of being a Christian. And if ever arrested for that accusation I pray there will be abundant and indisputable evidence for a conviction. That's an accusation and conviction that I would humbly accept. May God help me to never be ashamed to bear His name!
I'll tell the world that I'm a Christian,
I'm not ashamed His Name to bear.
I'll tell the world that I'm a Christian,
I'll take Him with me everywhere.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we pray for the courage and conviction to stand up for You and respond, "We choose to obey God rather than men!" when ordered by authority to contradict or rebel against Your commands. May we be found faithful in standing up for that which is right, rather than that which is popular. This will give us cause for rejoicing, like the apostles who left the Sanhedrin, "rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name of Christ."
(For an inspiring example of the apostles' uncompromising obedience to preaching the Gospel message read the entire chapter of Acts 5.)
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