FEAR

So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. Acts 16:40

The imprisonment of Paul and Silas in Philippi presents a wide variety of eternal and practical treasures for our Christian lives. Yet, a timely passage for our encouragement is today’s verse. The magistrates had beaten and humiliated Paul and Silas (v22) on the accusation from the owners of the demonic slave girl (vv19-20), since Paul had cast out the spirit of divination (vv16-18). When the magistrates discovered Paul and Silas were Roman citizens (v37), the magistrates were afraid because they had broken the law (v38). Roman citizens could not be condemned in the empire without due process because Rome was a republic, a kingdom establish upon law. Paul’s citizenship came at birth in Tarsus, a city in the province of Cilicia (Acts 22:3). Tarsus was designated a free city by Rome; and thus, those born in Tarsus possessed citizenship. In Acts, Paul uses his citizenship three times: here (v38), at his arrest in Jerusalem (Acts 22), and in appealing to Caesar (Acts 25); yet, each time he employed his earthly “government” status, it was for the furtherance of the gospel and the advancement of Christ’s kingdom. Today, in a few areas of America, the freedoms of religion and assembly protected by the first amendment to the U.S. constitution are being thwarted and perverted. In California, the governor is placing severe restrictions upon the brethren in Christ. John MacArthur’s Grace Community Church held services against the governor’s order to close. “This is not a problem to be feared,” said Dr. MacArthur. “This is a triumphant hour for the church to be the church.” Paul and Silas ignored the magistrates request to leave the city and ministered unto Lydia and the brethren. In America today, we are fast seeing that we must come face to face with either the fear of men or the fear of God. I’ve personally sided with Pastor MacArthur on this issue and, on July 25th, signed their website's statement. As Peter and the apostles told the Sanhedrin of old, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

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Today's M'Cheyne Reading Schedule: 7/29 - Judg 12; Acts 16; Jer 25; Mark 11

If you don’t have one, get a free PDF copy of Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s “Daily Bread” Bible Reading Calendar by Clicking Here.

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