Opposition

17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. Acts 5.

As we go through Acts, One thing we see over and over again is that culture changing faith almost always brings with it opposition.  When we begin to catch a glimpse of God and his vision for us, and when we have the Spirit of God living in us it will change us.  Once we have been changed, some people will be drawn to us because they are looking and wanting something different than what they see in the world.  Others, however, will be threatened by the changes they see and that brings opposition.  What I love is the boldness that the first followers had in the midst of opposition.  Boldness to speak the truth to the people at Pentecost; boldness to tell the High Priest and the Sadducees, “We must obey God rather than men.” Boldness to keep living out their faith even in the midst of hostility and persecution. The apostles do not seem at all surprised that they are encountering opposition and it should not surprise us either. In fact they went out saying, “Uh huh, Oh yea! We suffered for Christ” ~ S. Elaine translation~   Jesus said that it would happen and we see the evidence of it all through Acts.  While none of enjoy opposition, we can look at this and be encouraged because if they could be bold and endure opposition and remain strong, in the center of opposition and threats, then so can we.  After all, we serve the same God they serve and we have the same Spirit dwelling in us as they had. Guess what, in 2,000 years he has not changed.  Truth is if we want to change a culture, then we have to be willing to face disapproval and remain strong. So when we start to live for God and some people oppose us we should take heart.  In spite of everything, this is nothing new that we should be taken by surprise