Acts 7: 51-53
“You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteousness One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him–you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.”
A Thought
Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, was one of the chosen to help settle disputes among the people so the disciples were able to devote themselves to telling the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. After opposition arose against Stephen, some told lies that Stephen was guilty of speaking against Moses and God. Stephen was arrested, brought before the Sanhedrin, the governing body of religious leaders, to answer false charges against him. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, called them a stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears and that they were guilty of failing to obey the laws of God just like their fathers who resisted the Holy Spirit, persecuted, rejected and murdered the prophets, and they have betrayed and murdered Jesus the Messiah. The religious leaders of that day took pride in that they had been circumcised in the flesh according to the Law of Moses. Today, God demands that our ears be open to his word that will change our hard hearts to be made soft, respective to Him. Stay tuned–tomorrow we will hear what happens to Stephen.
Our Prayer
Father we desire to be your people who listens and obeys you voice. We ask that you humble us and change our hearts and ears to follow your leading by the Holy Spirit to tell our story of the way to you through your son, Jesus the Messiah. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
