July 24th 2011
Acts 7:54
"When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth."
These men judging Stephen were convicted of the things he had called them out on: not keeping the law, betraying and murdering Jesus, and following in their father's footsteps as they resisted the Holy Spirit. Their response to these convictions represent the hatred the men had toward the truth when it contradicted the way they were living. The men knew what Stephen had said was correct, and they became angry that he made them look foolish. Stephen said what he did, full of the Holy Spirit, and not afraid of what their response would be to his accusations. He knew the truth had to be spoken and didn't care that his punishment could be death. His determination to preach the gospel didn't falter with fear of rejection and hatred for he knew where his strength and power lay. When I reflect on this reaction of the council I can connect it to my own life. I, too, have been rejected and despised because I fought to share Christ with those who refused to be changed. Some of my, now I can confidently say, dear friends, at first, rejected my sincerity of sharing the gospel with them because with what I shared they felt convicted. I was cursed at, rejected and disowned. I can honestly say that during those times I wasn't intending to offend anyone with what I said, or that I wished to be treated the way I was. In fact when that happened I was discouraged from sharing, or opening up the truth Christ was revealing to me because I was afraid I would be hated again. I didn't have the courage Stephen had: fully knowing his demise as he opened his mouth and preached the truth, and I certainly wasn't willing to lay down my own pride (or lay down my life as Stephen did) for Christ's sake because of the hurt I had experienced from those instances. Thankfully God taught me that his words, when shared with sincerity and love, will not go unheard, as those friends reconciled with me some time later.
I want to be able share God's word freely in my life, without the fear of rejection. I should be understanding of people's situations as to not hinder them from wanting to learn about Christ, but to lift them up, and encourage their relationship with Him. I need to be sensitive of what they are being convicted of so as not to take it personally if they get offended. I need to realize that if I have shared with the right intent, and with the love of Christ the gospel of God that His work will be done in their life, and my pride shouldn't get in the way of that seed of faith being planted.
Proverbs 16:2 "All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits."
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