Monday, April 4- Acts 5:17-21

But the high priest stood up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and leading them out, he said, “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple area the whole message of this Life.” Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple area about daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, that is, all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison for them to be brought.

 

One of our most common questions to God is “Why?” When we hit a difficult circumstance or face opposition, we start to question God. After such amazing miracles, the apostles still encountered opposition. This was more than a trial; it was prison time. Even after witnessing the amazing things God was doing, it would have been easy to question His goodness while in prison, but the apostles trusted the Lord. In the face of hardship, God met them and provided for them even in prison, breaking them out so they could continue the work He had called them to.

 

We can also trust God wherever He leads us. Whether we are seeing fruit or facing hardship, He is at work inside us and goes before us. The apostles were not filled in on God’s plan beforehand; they didn’t know if following Jesus was going to cost them their lives, but they were faithful to the next step whether that led them into prison or provided a way out. We are also called to simply be faithful to following Jesus in the next situation He puts in front of us. As we go to the grocery store, we can follow Jesus in the way we treat fellow customers or grocery associates. As we have a hard conversation, we can follow Jesus in the way we show our patience. You can’t climb a mountain all at once—it is a step-by-step process. May we, as followers of Jesus, take the next step that He puts before us, following Him wherever He leads.

 

• Why do we often get distracted by circumstances as we are following Jesus?
• How does the obedience of the apostles in all circumstances encourage you?

Pray and ask God to equip you for the next step in your day and in your life.