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<h1><b><font size=5 face=Arial><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Legal Versus
Right<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Read: Acts 5:17-29<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
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face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Peter and the other apostles answered
and said: “ We ought to obey God rather than men.” – Acts
5:29<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
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face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>In his powerful book Unspeakable, Os Guinness wrestles with the problem
of evil in the world. In one section, he focuses on the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Nuremberg</st1:City></st1:place> trials that followed World War ll.
The Nazis stood charged with crimes against humanity, and their mantra of
defense was simple: “I was merely following orders.” The verdict,
however, was that the soldiers had a moral obligation to defy orders that,
though legal, were clearly wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>In a much different context, Peter and the disciples were arrested for
presenting the message of the risen Christ and brought before the religious rulers
in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:City></st1:place>.
Rather than allowing themselves to be shaped by the mood of the mob, the
disciples declared their intention to continue preaching Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The orders of the religious establishment may have been legal, but
they were wrong. When the disciples chose to obey God rather than the godless
religious leaders, they raised a standard of conviction that rose above the
opinions of the rulers of this world. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The trials we face may test our commitment. But we will find
opportunities to exalt the King if we trust Him for the strength to go beyond
the words of the crowd-pleasers and do right as He defines it in his Word. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>
-Bill Crowder<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> Say not, “The days are evil.
Who’s to blame?” <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> And fold the hand and acquiesce- oh,
shame!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in
God’s name,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> Be strong!
-Babcock<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'>
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face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Thought for the day:</span></font></b>
We must choose daily the way of the cross over the way of the crowd. -<st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Warren</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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