Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39)
There are people, who with good intentions, end up opposing God. It’s a scary thought, isn’t it? When you examine the New Testament, the Pharisees fall into such a category. In fairness, they believed what they were doing was right. They believed they were on God’s side. Gamaliel approached the situation with reason when several of the disciples were arrested. From his perspective, if something is of God, then that something will succeed. If it’s not of God, then it has no hope of success.
Consider David Koresh of the Branch Davidians. What ever happened to him and them? Obviously it wasn’t a movement from God. But what about the Church? Isn’t it interesting that we talk so much today about a carpenter who died nearly 2000 years ago? How is it possible that he remains such a topic of daily conversation? Perhaps it’s because he truly was and is the Son of God. What other movement is there that has taken over the world in such a way for such a length of time?
It’s possible to oppose God without ever realizing it. That’s why we need to be so careful about what we do and what we stand for. If we’re not careful, we’ll end up in the same place that the Pharisees were in: opposing God while believing that we are on His side.
Lord, help me to be so attuned to You that I never miss what You’re doing in the world. Rather than buying into the emotion of the moment, give me discernment to know what is of You and what isn’t. And when I find that thing, give me the courage to give myself fully to it.
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