September 9, 2024

Passage Read: Acts 6-7
Meditation Verse: 7:60

Thought

Stephen drew from history to show how disobedient and rebellious the Jews were, especially this leadership. He called them out for their sin in no uncertain terms, calling them stiff-necked and uncircumcised of heart, the betrayers and murderers of Jesus. Was he wrong? Should he have been more gentle? Would he have lived a long and spiritually fruitful life if he had handled this differently, been more gracious? Yet as they stone him, he pleads with God not to hold his death against them. He doesn't hate them, but he makes clear to them that they are under judgment, and exactly what the charges are against them.

Application

Is Stephen a hero? Because of him, a great persecution arose against the fledgling church. From a human point of view, that was terrible. People lost their lives, people lost their homes, people had to flee! If only Stephen had spoken more respectfully, more tactfully, maybe none of this would have happened! But what came of it was the preaching of the Gospel in new places. The church was young, but the believers, many of them, were sufficiently trained that they could tell others about Jesus! As if it was complicated. So from a heavenly point of view, yes, this was right. Stephen was killed, many were scattered, but the purposes and plans of God were not defeated, but advanced! I need to speak more clearly and not fear the backlash. Other Christians might suffer--I might be killed!--but God's plans would leap forward. I don't need to fear making enemies by shooting straight with people, even "harshly" rebuking the stubborn among them. We need clear rebuke, to show that what is done is done through God.