Passage of the Day - November 9, 2010

Acts 5:33-42

 ³³But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them.

 ³⁴But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.

 ³⁵And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men.

 ³⁶"For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.

 ³⁷"After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered.

 ³⁸"So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown;

 ³⁹but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God."

 ⁴⁰They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them.

 ⁴¹So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.

 ⁴²And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Fads come and go.  Rabble rousers come and go.  Charismatic leaders come and go.  Quite often the primary judge of a man’s authenticity is time.  Time will tell what God honors and works through and what He doesn’t.  In time, all people and all things will be tested and burned and refined.  That which remains many years later will be the proof.