WE CAN'T BE WRONG, RIGHT?

Acts 5:25-28

Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people." At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood."

I am quite sure neither the Sanhedrin nor the chief priest, felt they were opposed to God in this confrontation with Peter and John. Rather, they were so focused on their own power and authority they could not see God's correcting hand in the experience. We see this indignation in verse 28, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name."

So often we get locked into doing things our way (like the Sanhedrin), that when God corrects us through events (which many times are miraculous), we ignore the miracle because it doesn't fit with our expectation. We couldn't be wrong -- right? When things seem to be going wrong -- people aren't following your direction, leadership or example -- it's probably a good time to reevaluate how and what you're doing. God might be correcting you and He may be using a lowly person or people to do so. I think the most difficult correction for me to accept is, when God uses someone less educated, less experienced, or a new Christian. That's when I have to be especially careful that my "Sanhedrin" indignation and arrogance doesn't kick in.

Is God trying to correct you right now? Is there a way you are doing something, maybe even an attitude that needs to change? Has there been someone in your life that like the Sanhedrin has made you angry because they've challenged you? Perhaps it's time to reevaluate -- you couldn't be wrong, right?

Evaluate your attitudes and actions in light of God's Word, the Bible. Open your Gospel of John and hear, with humility and gratitude, God's guidance for you.

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