Quiet Please!

S - "Peter and John answered, “Do you think God wants us to obey you or to obey him? We cannot keep quiet about what we have seen and heard.” Acts of Ambassadors 4:19-20 TJB

 

O - Under the threat of death two of the first followers of Jesus of Nazareth give a very clear signal on speaking out.  What is often missed in their reply is the source and inspiration for their refusal to be quiet. It is from their personal interaction with Jesus not their well-intended opinions and observations from the Scriptures. It is that which they have personally experienced and been witnesses to in this regard.  John will later write: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard … .” 1 John 1:1-3 NIV 

 

A - Religion wants its adherents to do witnessing and heaven wants us to be witnesses (cf. Acts 1:22). The Scriptures' intent is not to give its readers information to debate, argue about or develop systematic theologies. Jesus clearly identified the purpose of Scripture. He said to the Scripture experts of his day: "You search the Scriptures, because you think you will find eternal life in them. The Scriptures testify of me, but you refuse to come to me for life." John 5:39-40 TJB. It is our direct, personal interface with his person and his spirit that is to be the basis for our talking.  Jesus is the ultimate material witness (John 3:11-12) and we are to be like him; material witnesses not the purveyors of scripturally inspired theories and hearsay. While I am welcome to my opinions on other matters, apart from my place with him as a material witness he insists: Steve, quiet please! 

 

P - Lord of life,

Am so very grateful to be experiencing you, knowing you, not just knowing about you.  I accept the limitation you want me to live and speak by.  I am not only willing to speak; I am willing to be quiet … just like you.  

I love you back,

Steve