VEX

Acts 12:1-3 (KJV)
“1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)”
What possesses kings to kill us Christians? The nature of our liberty in Christ is a threat to any and all forms of oppression and control. Our freedom in Christ is relational, internal, and becomes a challenge to evil dressed in self-righteousness and garbed in human pride. The intolerance in us is against anything tolerant of these in the church or out of the church (Reformation).
The deeper we enjoy our freedom greater is the anger against us. Therefore, it is not about us, it is about them and the oppression and pride they serve. The fear of losing control becomes the strength of the oppressor. Consequently, the king kills James with the sword and imprisoned Peter.
2015 is no different than then.
(reflection of Son-day School lesson)