PODCAST
Obey Who?
August 5th, 2025
Acts 5:25-32.
When we examine the devotional from yesterday further, we can see that at times our obligations to our earthly communities and our obligations to God’s kingdom intersect nicely. However, there are times when what God calls us to do, say, and be clashes with what governing authorities demand. How do we determine what to do in such a situation?
Like Peter and the disciples in today’s passage, we must we willing to obey God even if the authorities suggest otherwise. We can interact with governing authorities while maintaining our identities in Christ; it will take our entire allegiance to Christ. We cannot confuse allegiance to the government with allegiance to Christ.
Peter and the disciples had already been jailed for preaching the good news of Christ. They had been given “strict orders to not teach in this name” (v. 28). Yet, the disciples knew that “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (v. 29).
How is this possible? We participate fully in God’s kingdom: “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him” (v. 32). We must be immersed in God’s kingdom in order to have the directive and guidance from God through the Holy Spirit.
Author: Stefanie Hendrickson
