Tuesday's Together in the Word!

Welcome to Tuesday's in the Word... We are a group of women reading through the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs using the same reading plan and holding each other accountable. On Tuesdays we share what we gleaned from our time of study in the Word. To join us and to read what others have to share visit DeeDee, we would love for you to join us!


Sorry ladies that I am late posting today... yesterday I worked on a project that took much longer to do than I had anticipated... and this morning I had a sick child, throwing up, who seems to have been miraculously healed and who is now playing outside! How I wish I could recover from being sick so quickly!

I want to start with Acts 3:26:

"For you first, God raised up His Servant, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways."

Thank you Father God! For sending Jesus to bless me, by turning me away from wicked ways and towards You and righteousness. Living for you is so much more fulfilling and satisfying than living for myself could ever be. Help me to never go back to my old ways, help me to keep walking with You!


Now let's look at Acts 4:13:

"Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus."

Can others recognize that you and I have been with Jesus? Do we spend so much time with Him, sitting at His feet, learning from Him, and communing with Him that others see you and me and know that we have been with Him?

Let's move to one final passage, Acts 5:17-42

17But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail. 19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, 20"Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life." 21Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach Now when the high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought.

22But the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported back, 23saying, "We found the prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we had opened up, we found no one inside." 24Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this. 25But someone came and reported to them, "The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!"

26Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned). 27When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, 28saying, "We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us."

29But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. 30"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 31"He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32"And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."

Gamaliel's Counsel

33But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them. 34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. 35And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. 36"For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37"After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. 38"So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; 39but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God."

40They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Peter and the apostles had been ordered 3 times to not teach or preach in the name of Jesus, but they chose to obey God rather than man. (Acts 5:29) They were even flogged for preaching in His name, and after receiving their flogging they left "rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name." They were flogged and yet they were rejoicing! This just amazes me, and it convicts me. How often do I complain to myself, and to others, about the inconvenience of some of the things I have to suffer for the name of Christ. When you really think about, the things that I think are suffering in my life are really not even worth comparing to the suffering the apostles faced. They are really just minor inconveniences. Could I rejoice if I had to suffer like the apostles did for teaching in the name of Jesus? I honestly do not know...

Father God, please help me to get over myself, and help me to see my life and my minor inconveniences in the right perspective, a divine perspective. Please forgive me for being so petty and for complaining and griping about things that are really only minor inconveniences. Help me to rejoice in any and all trials or sufferings that come my way because of my stand for You. Help me to obey You rather than men, no matter what suffering or trials come as a result of that obedience. In Jesus' name, Amen.