WHAT IS RIGHT IN GOD'S SITE

Acts 4:14-19

But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was no thing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. "What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God."

Here was a man, crippled since birth who was over forty years old standing before them (the Sanhedrin) -- healed. What could they say? They certainly couldn't deny it because everyone knew about it (verse 16, "everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle"). But the Sanhedrin needed to stop this thing from spreading, so what was their solution? Stop them (Peter and John) from giving credit to Jesus (verse 17, "speak no longer to anyone in this name").

I love Peter and John's reply, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God." How often do we, when confronted with opposition to the gospel, sidestep around an issue or even worse be silent? Who will you obey, the world or God? Will you succumb to societal and peer pressure, or will you stand firm in your convictions and beliefs?

But what if the choice isn't black and white -- what if there are different points of view or perspectives? After all, the Bible doesn't speak specifically to every issue on which we may be confronted. For me the answer is in the phrase "in God's sight". This really cleans up the doubt (although I don't always like the answer). "Right in God's sight" is not always the most obvious, easiest, least confrontational, or convenient. But it is always right. The next time you feel a little confused on the right thing to do, place it in God's sight. Your decision will become much clearer.

Have you been ignoring or sidestepping around an issue? For example, have you been trying to convince yourself that un-Christian language is okay on the golf course, or inappropriate joke telling is fine as long as it's with your friends? Answer this question, what is right in God's sight?

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