June '25

But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name (Ac 4:17).

In my reading plan, I'm in Acts at the moment. As I went through chapter four, I was struck by something that is—rightly—often just assumed: the church faces opposition. This has been the case throughout its history. It is the case now. But it was the case in the beginning too. The powers of darkness want the mission of Jesus to fail, despite the clear pointlessness of chasing that pipe dream. After all, in Acts 4, this is the ruling class trying to shut the apostles up after a man has clearly been healed in Jesus' name. They don't even dispute this. They agree that the healing occurred and still are not impressed. So they scheme away.

I must say I did enjoy reading this 16,600 km away, 2000 years later from my phone, as I was preparing to gather for Lord's Day worship with all of you. I even chuckled a little under my breath. If the plan was for Christianity not to spread further among the people, you could say it was a bit of flop. At the end of the day, though, all plans like this will be. Even the ones that are at work currently, the one's we're worried about. "[Jesus] must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death" (1 Co 15:25–26). Jesus has work to do, and he invites us in to it. This June I pray you'll join him in his mission to redeem the world.

Phil Brown