The Phil Files

Stubbornness is not often counted as a positive character trait. I know most of the things over which I display my stubbornness are usually not worth the hassle it causes other people and myself. But there is a kind of stubbornness that is a holy trait. We’ll call it “God stubbornness.” (BTW, today’s insights come from yesterday’s daily Bible reading, Acts 5, I’m a little late on this because I traveled out of town for a funeral yesterday.)

Being God-stubborn means being stubborn for the same things God is — loving the world, faithfulness, loving-kindness, merciful, not wanting people to perish, and willing to do anything to communicate His care. It took awhile, but the apostles of Jesus began to demonstrate some God stubbornness in their lives. Acts 5 gives us a glimpse at one of these times:

//Inspiration: Acts 5:29Peter and the other apostles replied [when threatened with persecution and possible death], “We must obey God rather than human beings.”

//Incarnation: Do I love the things God loves? Am I willing to stand up for what God wants and where is His heart is? Am I willing to do it even in the face of threats? Are bringing people closer to God and sharing the message of Jesus the most important things in my life?For me to ever experience the power of God in the ways the early believers did, I’ve got to be able to live what these once fearful followers of Jesus do in the book of Acts: share God’s love with boldness, conviction, passion, love, and God-stubbornness.

//Invitation:O Holy Father, you are the Almighty, and I am your servant. Make me courageous and compassionate so that I can share Your grace with others with the same grit and determination, a real G0d-stubbornness, that Jesus demonstrated and the apostles followed. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.