You did a good job with that... Well done.... Nice job....
You shouldn't do that... You don't have the right or authority... You need to get permission before you do that...
We often struggle to know what to do. Because the world loves to glorify our efforts and vilify God's glory, we are often confused.
We see an example from our text of how we can evaluate our actions in accordance with the will of God.
Acts 4:10 NASB1995 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health.
First, we need to look and see if our action is going to proclaim Jesus. Peter said, "Let it be known to all of you!" The first thing Peter wants to be clear about is the healing they are all murmuring about is to proclaim Jesus, and everyone needs to know it.
When we look to evaluate our future actions, we need to pray and see if the action is being done to proclaim Jesus'.
Next, Peter says, "Whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead." Peter points out that the action contains no sin. Those who were questioning the healing were the sinners. They were seeking their own glory and not the glory of God. Peter says, "Whom you crucified. " He is pointing out that seeking glory instead of God is a sin. Sin is what crucified Christ!
This action contains no sin because, he says "whom God raised from the dead," it glorifies God only and proclaims Him. It didn't give Peter or John any glory, it didn't glorify the temple. It didn't glorify the religious leaders. It didn't glorify the man who was healed. It was a complete focus on Jesus and, therefore, had no sin.
When we look to evaluate our future actions we need to make sure no sin is involved in the action by giving no glory to anyone but God. So often, we think that if good comes from the action, then the end justifies the means. However, God never desires His people to sin, even though He will work it out for good. Sin of God's people doesn't glorify God. Isaiah 42:8 NASB1995 I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.
Next, Peter says, "By this name, this man stands here before you in good health." Before you begin your actions make sure you understand God is the one doing the work. If you think it is you then stop and don't do it. No action completed in your power is in God's will. God will work through you for His Glory!
These are three examples of how to make sure your actions are of God.
The words at the beginning of this devo have zero percent to do with whether you should do the action, but often, those words are what guide our decisions.
Evaluate your upcoming actions by the proclamation it gives Jesus, the absence of sin and the glory of God alone, and lastly, who is the strength behind the action.
Love Bro. Scott