Stephen's Last Words

In today's reading, we read most of the story of the stoning of Stephen. In his discourse, Stephen explains Jewish history, and ends with this statement in Acts 7:51-53:

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! ⁵² Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— ⁵³ you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.” 

I just love those words "Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute?" and of course, we know how they reacted to this mild rebuke. I don't want to dwell on or belabor these words, but I wanted to be sure to point them out, since we also need to be sure that we don't persecute the prophets of today.

I also wanted to mention one other part of today's reading, in Acts 5:34-39, where Gamaliel imparted excellent words of wisdom that we can still use today. The Sanhedrin were upset with the preaching of the apostles and had them jailed. During the evening, they were freed by an angel and continued their preaching, distressing the Sanhedrin so much they contemplated killing them. Gamaliel gave great advice, summarized in verses 38-39 where he stated that if these men were just men, their plans would fail, but if they were doing God's work, they couldn't be stopped. He suggested they be freed to see just what they were, and was persuasive  enough that this occurred. 

In our world today, if God wants something to happen, it will. He might use us, he might not, he might do it in ways we understand, he might not, but his will WILL be done. What Gamaliel said 2,000 years ago is just as relevant today, and we would do well to use the gifts of wisdom and  discernment to tell whether something is of God or is of man. I will (rarely) question anyone's intentions, but the ultimate question we have to ask ourselves in every endeavor we undertake is who we are attempting to glorify--God, or ourselves. If our efforts are focused on God, they can't fail--they might not go exactly as we planned, but that won't be important. If, however, we have the wrong motivations, even if we don't know it (and that's is one of my stock prayers that I ask on an almost-daily basis, that the work that I CLAIM to be for the Lord indeed be the case, and that my heart and mind be opened if I have strayed off that path), we're bound to fail.

It's tricky. The apostles have the Holy Spirit and visible powers at their disposal, but we have powers at our disposal that they couldn't even dream of. The only impediments to the spreading of the message, at least in this country at this time, are usually those of our own devices. Never stop trying to do good things, just always keep in mind the reason we do them--to the glory of the Lord.

Scott