Reflecting on Acts 5:17-42“For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men.” (Acts 5:39)
These words sound very wise to me as well; we could learn from them.
We prefer to manage and control threats to our faith or churches.
We want to “put to death” what we consider to be heretical or dangerous.
I know a few groups and movements in the church I would like to ‘put to death’.
But this was not the way Jesus worked, and even Gamaliel saw wisdom here.
We believe that love wins, and that God exalts those who follow the Jesus Way.
The Jesus Way to overcome evil is not by being violent or controlling.
It is by overwhelming the darkness with light, gracing it to death.
There are groups and movements that I think are operating anti-Christ.
They are working against the Jesus Way, and imitating the worldly way.
Nevertheless, if I truly believe they are wrong, they will fail.
And if I am wrong and they are right, I cannot stop them because I cannot stop God.
For my part, I need to follow the Jesus Way, not to attack those who don’t.
I need to have compassion on all people, forgiving those who don’t know what they’re doing.
As churches, we need to love people like Jesus, and let God do the exalting!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank You for the wisdom of Gamaliel, which reminds me of the wisdom of Your Way. You did not use force to establish God's kingdom of love; you used love, which turns out to be the greatest force of all! Help me to trust that Your way of love will not fail!