By: Mike Riley
The story is about a soldier who waved to one of the spectators as he stood at attention during a parade drill. The drill instructor saw him waving and immediately approached the young man and scolded him by saying, “Soldier, don’t ever wave while in formation again!” As his company marched past the reviewing stand, the young soldier waved again. When the troops returned to the barracks, the drill instructor barreled in and barked at the soldier, “I told you not to wave! Aren’t you afraid of me?” “Yes sir,” the private replied, “but you don’t know my mother!”
Peter and John had upset the religious elite in Jerusalem. They were disturbed by the powerful gospel message the two men preached and the miracles they performed. They wanted them to stop (Acts 4:1-18). As a result, Peter and John were arrested and thrown in jail (Acts 4:3). They had every reason to be afraid. Yet, the next day they boldly stood up to their accusers with great courage saying, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge” (Acts 4:19).
As the drill instructor did not know the demeanor of the young man’s mother, neither did Peter and John’s accusers know what their God was capable of — thus Peter and John feared God much more than they feared their persecutors (cf. Matthew 10:28). If we are tempted to be quiet when we are given the opportunity to speak up for Christ, we must remember that we can speak and act with conviction because our Lord has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). His authority is superior to man’s authority, and He is the One we need to please.