Would you Obey (Acts 5:17-21a)

Acts 5:17-21a (ESV)

17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

                When the disciples were put into prison for preaching Jesus, they did not stay there long. God sent them an angel to release them and to charge them to keep on preaching. Had you been among them, what would you have done? Would you have obeyed the angel? Even though it would likely cost you a beating or possibly even your life, would you have obeyed the charge of the angel?

                I’m guessing, Christian, that you read this and think to yourself, “Of course I would obey the angel.” After all, the disciples were talking to an angel. They received their marching orders from a supernatural being. They understood that God had the power to do miracles and protect them if he so chose. Why not obey the angel and preach the word, even in a hostile environment?

                Why not indeed? Here we sit in a far more gentle environment. Few of us have ever been threatened with prison or physical violence for telling others about Jesus. All of us have received from the Lord Jesus the call to go and make disciples of all the nations (cf. Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus, of course, is a supernatural being who outranks the angel that the disciples heard from, because Jesus is God the Son. We have our commission; it came from God himself. Our circumstances are easier than that of the disciples. Why, then, do we refuse to obey?

                Let us take stock of ourselves and our lives. Our Savior is worthy of our lives, our discomfort, our deaths. If we are called to tell our friends, neighbors, and families about the Lord Jesus, we must do so. Let these thoughts encourage you. Confess your sin. Ask Jesus to forgive you for your lack of evangelistic zeal. Learn what you need to know to be able to share the gospel with others. And then, obey the Lord Jesus by simply choosing to open your mouth, take the risk, and tell somebody about the Savior.