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27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5:27-32 NIV)
Happy Wednesday, dear Friend. May the resurrection spirit be yours today as He lifts you and your spirit away from doubt and temptation; may the aches and pains of life no longer be what worries you. Receive the spirit of love and love all people.
D. J. Molina was one of many saints who blessed my ministry. D.J. was in high school when I arrived as his pastor and he was our evening worship service pianist. A young man with a steady, ever-present lovely smile, was the son of one of my Dad's good friends. Mr. Arturo Molina rented a home down our alley in Kingsville during the summers he worked on his Masters degree from Texas A&I University in Kingsville. He and his wife Becky, were gracious people, active in their UM church in McAllen and in ours during those summers. Somewhere along the years, D.J. learned piano and volunteered to play for what are now distant memories, the Wednesday and Sunday night worship services. D.J. on that first night I was there came up to me and handed me a folded spiral notebook sheet of paper with the hymns that he knew well enough to play. I was so blessed to have him and his talent to help us in our worship. It did tickle me that his entire repertoire was on that list. And I loved him for it.
The disciples were handed a long list of don'ts with the main one being DO NOT PREACH OR TEACH IN THE NAME OF JESUS. That takes the fun out of it, don't you think? But it's funny that these restrictors of religious freedom admit that the disciples had been quite good at "filling Jerusalem with your teaching," and they feared being made guilty of Jesus' death. Their response? "We must obey God rather than human beings!" Sadly, there are some churches even today that have lists of topics that the preacher cannot preach on. I remember in other parts of the country that some churches were even writing to their bishops asking them not to send them preachers who preached on the "J-word." (Jesus).Yep, just like the Sanhedrin of then. The J-man is He whom God sent to "bring Israel (and all the world) to repentance and forgive their sins." And the disciples were witnesses of those very things, as was the Holy Spirit, Whom God has given to those who obey Him.
This is Easter truth. Jesus, crucified, is now exalted. He offers repentance and forgiveness. And His Spirit empowers believers to testify—to speak, live, and act as people changed by resurrection hope.
Easter is not just about the empty tomb. It’s about the unstoppable message that Jesus is Lord, and we are His witnesses. In a world that still tries to silence His name, we are called to say boldly, with our lives: “We must obey God.”
PRAYER: Risen Jesus, You are Prince and Savior, raised from the dead and exalted to the right hand of God. Thank You for giving us forgiveness, new life, and boldness through the Holy Spirit. Help us to live as faithful witnesses of Your resurrection—unafraid, unashamed, and unwavering. May our obedience to You bring life and light to a world in need. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Live the resurrection by your obedience. Speak with courage. Serve with joy. And fill your world with the name of Jesus.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
