Mon., 1/5/15 Devotion (Acts 5:28)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 5:28, where we read these words:

"Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!"

The gospel of free grace in the Lord Jesus Christ *must* be preached and proclaimed: first and foremost, from the "temple," (the church's pulpits); and from there, to every other place. The Jewish council (w/the high priest) sought to stop the preaching of Christ in the temple; but the apostles insisted on obeying God, and continued to proclaim Jesus there.

The church today is still to "fill [our cities] with [our] doctrine." We do not need radio, social media, or television, to do this; but we do need God-called mini-sters and elders to achieve such a high goal. When we do such preaching, Jesus' "blood" is brought to the masses: some for damnation, others for sal-vation.

[Puritan quote of the day: "For God is nearest to His children when He seems farthest off.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]