Sunday, April 30, 2006
May 1 Acts 7
Go ahead and look first at Acts 7 . See how God speaks to you individually. Then come back, if you wish, and see what God has put in my mind/heart.
Key Verse(s): Acts 7:60
Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Title: Revisionist History
Observation: Stephen is giving the people a review of “their glorious heritage” and reminds them of how often their fathers and grandfathers had failed to follow God’s lead. We tend to mythologize the past, even own personal history, in order to both please ourselves and also to construct a reason for where we are.
Stephen challenged their beliefs, particularly about Jesus being the long promised messiah. He laid the blame on them for the crucifixion of Jesus (though in truth it was their fault and ours as well- sinners in need of a savior). Their response was a childish covering of their ears to block out the truth of what Stephen was saying and the ultimate form of censorship- assassination. This first martyr of Jesus’ followers would be God positioned well enough to ask God to forgive them for their sin of murdering him. Awesome testimony
I think that if we can help others see what God has done and encourage them to re-think their suppositions, we might help them to see that the only true rock is Jesus Christ. And seeing clearly may or may not make us popular with them.
Application: I need to be willing to hold up a mirror to others and particularly to myself.
Prayer: Lord God, help me to with grace be willing to stand for the truth and help me to give people honest feedback. Help me to do the same to myself. And be willing to suffer for the Truth.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
