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Remember, the cripple?
He was the well-known cripple who sat outside the temple; the one who had a career of begging; the one who Peter and John through Jesus healed and restored; and the one who came to know Jesus, because Peter and John made the main matter, matter the most.
In Acts 4, this cripple along with Peter and John, are called into question by a Council of religious leaders, who opposed the continuing legacy and work of Jesus. They could not deny the healing of the cripple, and even more they could not deny the power in the name of Jesus. But in their attempt to prevent the movement of the gospel, they charged Peter and John to end all speaking, preaching, and healing.
But Peter and John, in their boldness, spoke to the council making it very clear, that the gospel, the good news of Jesus, was the main matter that mattered the most and it mattered more than any law or punishment.
Following their release Peter and John went back to their church community and together with their friends prayed; asking God, for the boldness to continue to speak the gospel.
What if we were in the same position, what would we have prayed for?
I think, we may have prayed for safety, or comfort, or freedom from oppression, or a nice and safe church building, to use for the equipping of believers?
I do not think many of us, would have prayed for boldness, knowing very well, that persecution would come, suffering would take place, and our families would be endangered. No, I am quite sure, that our prayers would have been centered around us.
But Peter and John pray for boldness. They pray that above all else, that God would grant them the boldness to preach; the boldness to speak; and the boldness to heal. No matter the cost, the danger, or the risk, Peter and John pray for boldness. Recognizing the message of Jesus, that changed their life, was the most important message that anyone could hear. To Peter and John, it was more important that the gospel moved forward, then their reputation, their jobs, their families, or their comfort.
I wonder what would happen, if our prayers were centered on the movement of the gospel and we prayed for boldness, so that we would have the strength and the courage to make the gospel matter the most.
How different would our families, workplaces, and city be?
May our prayers be like that of Peter and John. May we be so focused and passionate about the gospel, that we know longer pray for our safety and comfort, but we pray for the boldness to endure through suffering and oppression, so that the name of Jesus would be known to everyone. And may we above all else, make the main matter, matter the most.
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