Day After Day

March 20

(Acts 5:42 NIV) "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ."

(Psalm 61:8 NIV) “Then I will ever sing in praise of your name and fulfill my vows day after day.”

(Psalm 96:2 NIV) “Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.”

The apostles were beaten, threatened with death, and publicly disgraced, but they went right back out the next day and witnessed to the power of the gospel. Day after day, they shared the good news. Day after day, they sang the praises of Jesus. Day after day, they proclaimed His salvation in their church, and from house to house. Day after day, they put the cause of Christ above their personal well being. This is our calling as His disciples. Never stop telling the story that God has come to Earth. The Creator stepped into His creation. His name is Jesus, and He came to redeem our lives and save our souls. Healing and wholeness are found in His name. Forgiveness flows from His grace. His mercy and love are available to all who believe God, and confess that Jesus is Lord. Day after day, the apostles never stopped proclaiming this message. Neither should we! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Found Worthy

March 19

(Acts 5:41 NIV) "The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name."

(James 1:2-4 NIV) "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, {3} because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. {4} Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

(1 Peter 4:12-16 NIV) "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. {13} But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. {14} If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. {15} If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. {16} However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name."

If we were flogged for sharing our faith, most of us would probably file a police report and a lawsuit. The apostles didn’t do that. They rejoiced that they had been “counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” They were beaten for preaching the gospel, and praised God for the honor. Being publicly disgraced was acceptable to them, as long as it was disgrace for the Name of Jesus. Many times today, we are disgraced for bad behavior. There is no cause for joy in that. Don’t confuse the trouble you go through because of foolish disobedience, for the persecution of the faithful. But we are blessed if we suffer ridicule and disgrace for our witness to the Name of Jesus. So if you have been verbally flogged and ridiculed of late, stop whining and start praising God. You have been found “worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” You have made the Lord’s Honor Roll. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Fighting Against God

March 18

(Acts 5:34-39 NIV) ““But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. {35} Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. {36} Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. {37} After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. {38} Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. {39} But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.””

(Proverbs 21:30 NIV) "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord."

As Gamaliel spoke to the Sanhedrin, he said something profound. He urged his colleagues not to kill the apostles, because if the gospel they were preaching was from the Lord, the Sanhedrin would end up “fighting against God”. The apostles could be flogged, disgraced, hounded, persecuted, and even killed… but if their message was from God, it could not be stopped. Those who fight against God never win in the end. Christians, we need to receive this prophetic statement from Gamaliel as an admonition to us. We have been commissioned to deliver the gospel, God’s message of truth, grace, hope, and love. It cannot be stopped. When people try to silence the gospel, they are fighting against God. Do not be intimidated or afraid. We may suffer, but the gospel will be victorious. No one can succeed when they fight against God. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Hostility Toward the Name

March 17

(Acts 5:33 NIV) "When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.

(Acts 5:40-42 NIV) “They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. {41} The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. {42} Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”

Throughout the church’s history, Christians have been persecuted and killed for witnessing about Jesus. Christ threatened the religious system of His day, and the response of religion is often to eliminate the competition. We see it happening in our world today. On this particular day, in an attempt to silence them, the Sanhedrin had the apostles flogged for preaching the truth. It didn’t work. The apostles rejoiced in being found worthy of “suffering disgrace for the Name”, and they kept preaching. Will you? The goal of many today is to silence Christians, and eliminate the name of Jesus from the public arena. You can talk profane trash in public, but do not talk about Jesus or you will be flogged. It may be a verbal or emotional flogging, but it may even become physical. If you persist in speaking “the Name”, there will be an attempt to disgrace you. Will you wilt, or will you rejoice in being found worthy? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day