Sun.’s Devo - God’s Final Say

Read: 1 Kings 2:1-3:2; Acts 5:1-42; Psalm 125:1-5; Proverbs 16:25
David knew he was close to leaving the earth so he called in his son Solomon to give him instructions. He told him to be of courage and be a man. If he followed the Lord and the Law of Moses, he would succeed in all he did and wherever he went. If he remained faithful to the Lord, God would remain faithful to him.
Then David went through a list of people he needed to attend to. Joab was the first. He had killed his other two army commanders Amasa and Abner saying it was an act of war when it was really a time of peace so he needed to die.
He was to show kindness to Barzillai and make him a permanent guest at his table.
Shimei was to die a bloody death for cursing David and his men when they were fleeing Absalom.
Those were David’s last requests and he died.
In Acts, Ananias and his wife, Sappira sold some property. Instead of just giving what they wanted to give which would have been fine, they lied about the amount they sold it for and said they had given the whole amount. They were lying to the Holy Spirit so they fell dead. The fear of God fell on the people when they heard their story.
The apostles were moving in such signs and wonders that sick people were laid out on their mats out in the street so that the shadow of Peter might fall on them and they be healed. People were coming from miles around to be healed and delivered from demons.
The high priest and his officials were filled with jealousy because they were losing favor. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail but an angle came and opened the gates of the jail and set them free. Then he told them to go the Temple and continue to tell the good news. When the high priest sent a messenger to bring them to trial, they found the guards but no prisoners. Then they heard that they were teaching in the Temple. They went to the Temple and got them. When they were questioned as to why they kept teaching in the name of Jesus and blamed them for killing him, Peter and the apostles told them that they had to obey God rather than man. The high priest wanted to kill them but one of the Pharisees named Gamaliel convinced him not to kill them. If they were from God they did not want to be guilty of fighting God but if they weren’t, their doctrine would eventually fade out.
The apostles left praising God for allowing them to be persecuted for him.
Lord, help us to remember that you always have the final say. Everything we do will be judged and only what we have done in your name with the right motives will stand.