Description: Based on Acts 5:27-42, we confront the ultimate question of allegiance. When the world demands compromise, Peter's declaration, 'We must obey God rather than men,' becomes our own. This devotional explores the cost and the joy of radical obedience.
Scripture: Acts 5:27-32 and 40-42.
Explanation: Here we witness a foundational moment of conflict for the Christian faith. The apostles stand before the Sanhedrin, the highest human religious and civil authority for a Jew, which had explicitly commanded them to stop preaching about Jesus. Their response, led by Peter, is one of the most vital declarations in all of Scripture: 'We must obey God rather than men.' This was not an act of rebellion for rebellion’s sake; it was a statement of ultimate allegiance. Their commission to be witnesses came from the resurrected Christ Himself, a command that no earthly council could ever nullify. They understood that when human law directly contradicts God’s clear command, the believer has no choice but to obey God. The incredible postscript to this confrontation is their reaction to the punishment. They weren't dejected or defeated after being beaten; they were rejoicing! They considered it a high honor and a privilege to be deemed worthy of suffering for the name of their Lord and Savior. It was a badge of honor that fueled their resolve to continue preaching everywhere.
Parable: Consider the story of Dr. Evelyn Reed, a pediatrician who ran a clinic in a large city. A new state mandate was passed requiring all medical professionals to affirm and refer children for life-altering, irreversible procedures that violated her deeply held biblical convictions about the sanctity of how God created us as male and female. The medical board issued a stark warning: compliance was mandatory for licensing. Dr. Reed was tormented. She loved her patients and her practice, but she loved her Lord more. Her colleagues urged her to just sign the forms, to compromise to keep her clinic open. 'It’s just paperwork, Evelyn,' one said. 'Don't throw away your career.' After a night of agonizing prayer, she knew what she had to do. She was called before a review board and asked directly if she would comply with the new mandate. With a calm and steady voice, she looked at the board members and said, 'I have served the children of this community faithfully for twenty years. But there is an authority higher than this board and a law higher than this mandate. I cannot and will not participate in what God's Word clearly defines as harmful. I must obey God rather than men.' She lost her license and had to close her clinic. It was a painful loss, but as she walked out of that building for the last time, a profound sense of peace and even joy filled her heart. She knew she had honored her King, and in God's economy, that was the only victory that mattered.
Moral: The moral of this account is an anchor for the soul in a shifting culture. Our first and highest allegiance is to the Lord Jesus Christ. While we are called to be law-abiding citizens, when the laws of man demand we sin against God, our choice must be clear. This path of obedience may lead to persecution, loss, and suffering. Yet, the apostles teach us that to suffer for the Name is not a reason for shame, but a cause for rejoicing. May we have the courage to stand with them and declare, in word and in deed, that we will obey God, no matter the cost. As Peter would later write in his epistle, 'but and if ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed are ye.' 1 Peter 3:14 (ASV)