The reason the disciples were in prison was because they had been doing the very thing the angel told them to go do again. They were with one voice preaching the resurrection of Jesus in the center of Jewish worship, the temple. At first they needed no prompting from an angel, but were filled with the Holy Spirit and confident in the knowledge that Jesus has risen from the dead.
It had not been long ago when the disciples were hiding in fear as their Savior rose from the dead. At first they even refused to believe what the women told them. How amazing it is to see these men who were once filled with terror at a perceived threat become filled with bold confidence in the fact that He is risen!
The Holy Spirit gives us the same blessing of boldness because He gives us the same faith in the same message that Jesus in rising from the dead, God shows that His sacrifice is fully satisfactory, and He declares us righteous.
Let us show this boldness in our words and actions and thank God that He has also given to those of us in the USA and Canada a fair amount of freedom to proclaim Jesus as Lord. Let us also remember our brothers and sisters who live in countries which do not afford these freedoms. Pray that they continue to have the same boldness as Peter and John and the other disciples who continued to proclaim the truth in the midst of their enemies, even after the name of Jesus was outlawed. When it comes to the message of our risen Savior it is a blessing to be emboldened to obey God rather than men. |
