August 8, 2022 - Acts 7:51-57

““You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.” On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.” Acts 7:51-57 BSB

Lord, I am blown away by Stephen’s actions. He was a bold witness for you in the face of opposition. He declared the truth even to those who wouldn’t agree with what he was saying. He pushed beyond the place of comfort to speak truth. How often do we skirt around declaring bold truth because we don’t want to offend someone? Forgive us for trying to “dress up” your truth to make it sound better, so we don’t offend. Jesus, help us find the balance of declaring the truth but also extending mercy and love. You did it so beautifully. At times you would declare truth to people in a way it could easily offend, and other times you offered love and overlooked sin in that moment. It really comes down to listening to you, Holy Spirit. You know what is in people’s hearts. You know when the timing is right for someone to have the truth boldly declared, and when we just need to offer love and let you work on the rest. Help us listen to you and walk in obedience. Help us, like Stephen, be willing to walk in obedience to what you are asking regardless of what it might cost us.

In Jesus name, amen.