Tell Them Anyway

By Rick Woodall

    What should be the deciding factor in determining whether the Good News of the Gospel should be silenced? Is there a proper moment in history that we need to postpone proclaiming the truth? I recall a scripture when religious leaders of the day were becoming more than concerned about the activities of the Apostles in the book of Acts.
    “Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." – Acts 5:17-20
    It was a time of primary concern.  The high priest and the associates were burning in envy because the current events. These followers of Christ were presenting a new message to the people.  It was an announcement of hope.  This message was not a halfhearted proclamation. It was the full message that well defined a new life of the likes no one had ever heard of before.  The Gospel could be observed in the lives of Gods messengers. Even officially authorized custody could not stop the persistent doctrine of truth.
    My gift reminds me that in today’s world the “Good News” remains bad news to several that will not respect the authority of the scriptures. Here is some wonderful advice.
    “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
     But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”  - 2 Tim 4:2-5
    The message is still a new objective for many. The Gospel is still promising a new life. Since that is the case many are yet trying to influence individuals in other directions. Before you get too bored let the scriptures speak.
    “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.” - Heb 13:8-9
    The message is the same. The adversary is still pulling misleading tricks out of his bag that include suspicion, envy and doubt. We need to keep telling the people the full message of this new life.
    “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. – 1 Pet 5:8-9

- Rick Woodall is the minister for the Yorktown Road church of Christ in Logansport Indiana. His weekly devotional message, Life Thoughts, can be found through this address:  http://mysite.verizon.net/yorktownroadchurchofchrist/