The Message Unloosed!

Today’s, Yesterday’s and Tuesday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Isaiah 11-16
NT: Acts 5-7
W&W: Proverbs 13-15

Today’s Reflection:
Sorry I have been unable to post my blog the last couple of days. Contrary to the commercials – for a guy who is technologically challenged and impoverished, the internet is not always findable! I hope you have kept up – or will catch up with the readings.

I’m in Bethel, OH now, preparing for my start-up on June 7 as pastor of the Bethel Nazarene Church. Through the generosity and kindness of a sister in the Lord, Lana and I have been able find a house to rent without a lease and at a very reasonable price. God is helping us! We thank HIM for his faithfulness.

In Acts 5, we read of the story of the apostles being arrested – again – for preaching in the name of Jesus, but “during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. ‘Go, stand in the temple courts,’ he said, ‘and tell the people the full message of this new life’” (Acts 5.19-20).

The apostles did as they had been instructed, entering the temple courts and teaching the people. The high priest and his associates were in for a surprise the next morning when they sent for them in the jail: “On arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, ‘We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside’” (Acts 5.22-23).

Once again, the Sanhedrin sent guards and made the apostles appear before the high priest. And, once again, they told them not to preach or teach in the name of Jesus. “Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than men’” (Acts 5.29).

The message was unloosed! When Jesus came forth from the grave, the message of the gospel was set free! Now, Peter and the other apostles confessed: We have to tell the good news! God told us to!

In this season of my life, I feel a particular connection to the message being unloosed. I have received a call to pastor again, and I must obey God! In reality, however, I am thankful that the message never was bound! Yes, I did not have a current assignment in the pulpit of a church, but, God continued to proclaim hope and light through me – mostly without words!

Is the message unloosed in your life? Circumstances need not bind the message of Jesus. The jail, the beatings, even the martyrdom of the apostles could not silence the message of hope. Nor need it silence you and me. “Oh God, unloose the message!

This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
1 John 1.4-5: We write this to make our joy complete. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.