THE TRUTH CAN SILENCE SOME OF OUR CRITICS

THE TRUTH CAN SILENCE SOME OF OUR CRITICS

PROCLAMATION

“When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, ‘Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.’ ”  Acts 11:18 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATIONS

These are the acts of the apostles of Jesus, The Christ, as written by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Luke records that the apostles and believers criticized Peter for taking The Word of God to the Gentiles and for going into the house of, and eating with, “uncircumcised men.” (Acts 11:1-3)  Peter explained why he did what he did and told them the hold story starting from the beginning. (Acts 11:4-16)  When he finished he asked them, “So if God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in The Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11:17)  When they heard this, they had no further objections.

 

APPLICATIONS

Sometimes we can be criticized, even by our fellow believers, for doing what The Lord God has told us to do.  Some people will not like it when we tell the truth, especially if we “step on their toes”.  When our critics are believers, the truth will silence them. (Acts 11:18)  However, if our critics are non-believers, the truth can upset them, and it may even enrage them to the point of violence.  That was what happened to Peter and John (Acts 5:40) and to Stephen. (Acts 7:54-58)  Jesus, The Christ said, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake … Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12)  We are encouraged to always tell the truth.  Although, just because a statement is truthful does not mean that it needs to be said.  We should always think before we speak to make sure that what we say is: “Truthful, Helpful,  Insightful, Necessary, and Kind.”