Today’s Reading:
Acts 7:44-56
“Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen, 45) which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David, 46) who found favour before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob. 47) But Solomon built Him a house. 48) However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: 49) ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, Or what is the place of My rest? 50) Has My hand not made all these things? 51)You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52) which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53) who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it. 54) When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55) But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56) and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
(Acts 7:44-56 [vv. 51-53], NKJV)
The tabernacle was a sacred sanctuary where God met with His people Israel. The ‘tabernacle of witness’ or ‘tent of witness’ was an elaborate portable tent used by ancient Israel in the wilderness. The witness here being the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. After the sin of worshipping the golden calf at Mount Sinai, Moses set up the sacred tent outside the camp, because God refused to dwell in the midst of the people of Israel. It was only Moses that entered this tent. In his speech, Stephen referred to this period in Israel’s history as one of apostasy (vv, 42-43). It was the lifeless institution the temple built with the hand that Stephen as opposed to (vv. 47-48).
Stephen presented his speech on the ‘call of Abraham’ to the Israelites, boldly and with unusual courage. To the extent that his closing remark ‘you stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears’ ( vv. 51-52) made the devout Jews who were outwardly circumcised believed he had committed blasphemy or spoken evil against God. The Sanhedrin was infuriated by Stephen’s accusation. Although the penalty for blasphemy was stoning (Deut. 13:6-11); but the Romans had taken the Jewish right to execute offenders. So, Stephen’s death was not a formal execution but the angry mob’s reaction to his statement; they took the law into their hands. And so, Stephen became the first Christian martyr to be stoned to death. And Saul of Tarsus consented to the murder (8:1), because the murderers kept their garment with him while he watched them kill Stephen.
Religious rituals cannot bring Christians into right standing with God. It is -
The circumcision of the heart and ears, that is, a genuine change of heart through our rebirth (being born again).
An obedient walk of faith with God, which are the real signs of a cordial relationship with God.
Stephen prayed for those that killed him – he saw the glory of God and the ‘Son of Man’, Jesus Christ (Matt.2:9-12) standing at the right hand of the Father, as a witness against Stephen’s accusers and also to receive him into His heavenly kingdom.
The Scripture is written not just as the history of the chosen race of God but also for us to learn lessons. God takes His laws seriously, it is not to be adjusted, it is not to be altered to suit our worldly purpose. The word of God is true and living. It was initially because of idolatry that God called Abram out of his kindred (Gen. 12:1-3). Also, he drove the heathen nations from the Promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and gave it to His chosen race (Deut. 7:22; Jos 4:24) - Israel. It is this same idolatry that made him uproot ancient Israel from the Promised Land and He scattered them all over the world.
God kept His word and sent the Holy Spirit, another Comforter, Helper to show us all things, even more than Jesus did during his lifetime (John 1416). Why are we being stiff-necked, uncircumcised in the heart and ears? Out of ignorance or deliberately we go against the commands of God. As we continue to go our own way, we grieve the Holy Spirit and are going further away from God. The Lord is calling unto us to repent from our sins and wicked ways. There will be no repentance when we are no more. No matter how grievous our sins are, God is love, he is merciful and gracious. When we come to Him with repentant hearts, he will forgive, and the blood of Jesus will wash us from the stain of our guilt.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
Father, thank you for giving us your Holy Spirit, another Comforter to stay with us till the end of the age, in Jesus name.
Holy Ghost, fill me with your fire and power, in Jesus name.
I claim and possess victory overpowers in the stronghold, in Jesus name.
Father, give all those that proclaim the gospel of peace, including all those in the mission field, the unction, boldness, courage, and perseverance to speak the truth of Your word, in Jesus name.
O God, arise and make the unlawful captives in the cage of the powers from the dry places, be too hot to handle for the enemy, in Jesus name.
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