Is it possible to be excited about persecution? Here in Acts 4, Israel’s ungodly leaders threatened Peter and John telling them they were to no longer preach about Jesus. Instead of making them and the other disciples afraid, as John MacArthur says, “it exhilarated them.” Though God may allow men to criticize or persecute us at times, knowing He will turn it to our good and His glory can help us rejoice in the midst of it.

Today’s Readings:

1 Chronicles 3 & 4
Psalm 76.7-12
Proverbs 19.8-9
Acts 4.23-37

Responding to Persecution

Acts 4.23-37:

Glory in the Midst of Persecution

Once again I’m amazed at how often our Old and New Testament readings fit together (see today’s reading in Psalm 76.7-12). Should we be surprised? Remember, it is all one continuous story written by the same Author! The disciples even quote an Old Testament passage (Ps. 2.1-2) in today’s reading.

Here in Acts 4, the ungodly leaders of Israel threatened Peter and John telling them they were no longer to preach about Jesus (Acts 4.17-18). Instead of making them and the other disciples afraid, as John MacArthur says, “it exhilarated them.” They weren’t cowed by the persecution. They just had a prayer meeting and asked God to help them be bolder and to show Himself strong!

So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said. ‘Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them.’ … Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus’ (vv. 24, 29, 30).

And the Result

Verse 33 was the result:

And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

As the psalmist said, “Surely the wrath of man shall praise You.”

We, too, should be encouraged when we encounter persecution because of our faith, knowing that in the end even the wicked will bring Him glory because of His ultimate triumph.

So, how do you and I respond to persecution? How should we? Let’s purpose in our hearts to pray as the disciples did for boldness and a demonstration of His power and for His help to grow in faith and trust in Him.

Today’s Other Readings:

1 Chronicles 3 & 4:

The Tribe of Judah

The chronicler continues the genealogical record, giving special emphasis to the tribe of Judah because it’s the tribe through which Christ would come.

Proverbs 19.8-9:

Our Good & God’s Glory

Verse 8:

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will find good.

When we acquire and then walk in God’s wisdom, we not only please Him and bring Him glory, but we are doing the thing that is best for us. Our good and His glory are always connected.

Psalm 76.7-12:

The Wrath of Man Turned to Praise

Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; with the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself (v. 10).

Though God may allow men to rage against Him and His children for a season, He will deal with them in His perfect timing.

He allowed Goliath to stand day after day and rage against Him and His people, then raised up a shepherd boy who came against him in the name of the Living God with only a slingshot, so He alone would receive the glory.

Sennacherib raged against and threatened Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem, calling their God impotent and unable to help them (2 Kings 18 & 19). But when Hezekiah prayed, “Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God” (Is. 37.17), the Angel of the Lord killed 185,000 of his troops and sent him packing. Later, he was killed in the temple of his false god by his own sons!

And in the end, although He will allow Satan to create havoc for a while, one day soon every knee will bow and every tongue shall give Him praise (Rom. 14.11 NASB).

Coming Up:

In the coming days, we’ll talk about the importance of godly friends, hypocrisy, the sin of nagging, the circle of blessing, and the importance of being able to explain the basics of the Christian faith.

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Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥

Note about this post:

I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer. 

A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”

I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.

Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)

I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.