The Predestination of God's Glory and Man's Satisfaction
The context of Acts 4 is the Apostles have been called out by the religious leaders of the day and were told to stop preaching. They have been questioned and threatened, but there desire is still to hold firm. Even after this the Apostles and their fellowships declaration is that God used Pontius Pilate, Herod, the Gentiles and the people of Israel to accomplish what his hand and purpose predestined (27, 28). Did you get that? God predestined the cross and everything it entailed. And by the cross, we see how much God is worth. We see that God is of infinite value because when we look upon the cross we see God's unfathomable love, his undying mercy, his sure and firm justice, and his infinite wisdom. You do not know anyone else like that. There is no one like our God. The apostles and their fellowship knew this, that is why they do not pray that God would alleviate them of suffering, pain, questioning, threats, or persecution. They pray that God would grant a confidence to speak truth (29). You see when we speak truth and don't hold back especially in the face of adversity the worth of God is elevated to a status higher than any other pleasure. By such action people will know that God is supremely satisfying, therefore worth more than anyone or anything. Therefore within the predestination of the cross, lies God's glory and our greatest satisfaction and fulfillment. And when we preach and represent our God no matter the cost, God gets glory and we display the supreme satisfaction and fulfillment found only in God.
