FRIDAY January 13, 2023

Men of Conviction

So they [the religious leaders] called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
Acts 4:18-20

Were Peter and John afraid of the Jewish leaders’ threats? No way! Peter and John were men of conviction. You could hear their conviction when they preached. These godly men could not be silenced. They would proclaim to others the things they had seen and heard. Peter and John had been with Jesus, and they had seen His power. In the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter and John would not deny the Lord––no possible way!

In our courts, this would be called “civil disobedience.” You see, we have to disobey the government when they are trying to take the truth of Jesus Christ away from us. We cannot bow to Caesar. He is not Lord; we must confess Jesus Christ is Lord. We have to live our lives according to the Word of God.

Martin Luther was a German theologian, a monk who brought about the Protestant Reformation. He challenged the erroneous teachings found in the doctrine of the Catholic Church. Standing before a Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, at the Diet of Worms––a formal deliberative assembly––he refused to recant his writings. Unintimidated, Martin Luther made a courageous stand and said:

Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason––I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other––my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.

There are people who have said to me, “You are too radical.” I would rather be a radical for Jesus than for anyone else. Preaching the name Jesus Christ is what I have been called to do––so God help me!

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.”
~Matthew 10:32~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!