Acts 4:1-22 NIV
[1] The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. [2] They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. [3] They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. [4] But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. [5] The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. [6] Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. [7] They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” [8] Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! [9] If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, [10] then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. [11] Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ [12] Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” [13] When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. [14] But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. [15] So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. [16] “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. [17] But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” [18] Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. [19] But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! [20] As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” [21] After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. [22] For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Dear God, this must have been such a confusing time for the church leaders in Jerusalem. They had stooped to murder. Now they needed to justify their actions by dealing harshly with Peter and John. But then it was hard to deal too harshly with them because they had performed a great miracle in Jesus’ name. It’s a time like this when your lifelong beliefs combine with your sin to box you into a corner.

As I sit her, I’m trying to think of times when my ego has kept me from doing what was right because it would mean I am wrong. Probably the best examples involve parenting decisions I have made. When I take the things that were taught to me about parenting as I grew up and combine them with the sin of making some parenting decisions out of the pain I experienced in the moment I know there have been times when I doubled down on my mistake instead of just repenting and seeking out truth and a wise path forward. I see politicians do this all of the time.

Father, please help me to not fall into the trap of letting my ego and pride get in the way of your truth and love. Help me to love justice, have mercy, and walk humbly with you, for your glory’s sake.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen