Devotional by Ray Stedman for May 5-Cut to the Heart

Topic;Cut to the Heart

Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, Brothers, what shall we do?
Acts 2:36,37

As Peter preaches the Gospel at Pentecost, he proclaims the authority of the Lord Jesus based on his resurrection from the dead. Suddenly all this made perfect sense to this multitude. The full force of Peter’s arguments thudded home, and they realized that they were in a very precarious position. This One whom he had proven, by indisputable evidence, to be Lord, was the One they had crucified 50 days earlier.

Can you imagine how they felt? It would be very much as if you went down to apply for a job, and on the way you got into an automobile accident. And when the other driver got out, you started beating and cursing and kicking him in anger. Then you got into your car and drove off, and went on to apply for the job. When you were all cleaned up and ready, you were ushered into the presence of the man whom you had just beaten and cursed out in the street. That is what these people felt. No wonder they were cut to the heart and cried out, Brothers, what shall we do?

There is where Christianity rests its case. Jesus Christ is Lord, whether men know it or not. The very forces which control their lives are dependent upon him. It would be almost laughable, if it were not so sad, to hear people dismiss Jesus Christ as though he were an option, as though they had the choice either of believing or not believing in him, whatever they felt like, and it did not make much difference one way or the other.

The declaration of Peter on this day is that Jesus is the Inevitable Man. There is no way you can avoid him. Your very life is dependent upon him. He is Lord over all things. Eventually, you have to deal with Jesus Christ, whether you like it or not.

Thank you, Father, for bringing me to a place where I know the answer to the question, What shall we do? Thank you that you have opened my eyes to see that Jesus is the Messiah who conquered death.

Life Application
Does the reality of Christ as the ‘Inevitable Man’ determine the issues of our identity as well as our worldview? Is He the governing authority in the way we think as well as in our behavior?