The apostles continued to perform miracles and wonders, and all the believers were in one accord in the eastern compound of the temple, called Solomon's portico. Sick people were being brought to them, and people were getting healed. As a result, the number of believers continued to increase. The high priests and the Sadducees rose up and arrested the apostles because they were filled with jealousy. During the night, while the apostles were in prison, an angel of the Lord opened the prison gates and told them to go back to the temple and continue to speak the message of the Lord Jesus Christ. About daybreak, which is about 6 am in the morning, the apostles began to teach in the temple compound. The high priests and his associates didn't realize what happened that night that they sent orders to bring the apostles to them from prison, but when the officers went to prison, they could not find them there. Later that morning, they found the apostles teaching at the temple compound. The high priest ordered the captain of the temple guard and the officers to bring them to the council and tried to stop them from teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. However, Peter and the apostles told them they must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:12-29).
One of the lessons we can learn from this story is that we should please God first in everything we do. As believers, God calls us all to live for Him and not for ourselves. The apostles and the other believers during the time of the apostles suffered for their faith because they chose to live for Christ in everything they did. And God was with them and working among them. As a result, many people witnessed God's power in them. In the same way, God also wants us to live for Him so that we may experience His power in our lives.
I want us to challenge ourselves to live for Christ today. Let us obey Him in every decision we make and everything we do. Let us please God first and let God's power work in our lives. If we want to experience God's power in our lives, there is only one way to do it: to live for Him. We can start by living for Him at home, school, and work.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully and meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speaks to you). Am I willing to live for God in everything I do and every decision I make? What happens when I live for God first? What does it mean to live for God daily?
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, you know everything that is going on in my life, and please forgive me if I have not been living for you. Would you please teach me and give me the willing heart to live for you? You are my Lord and Savior. Please help me surrender everything to you so I may obey and live for you. In your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.