Stephen Archives - Moment to Moment

Even the hardest heart

They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul..

Saul agreed with putting him to death. (Acts 7:57-8:1)

In so many ways, Moses was a picture of Jesus. (Acts 7:37)

Jesus also was beautiful in the eyes of the Father. (Acts 7:20)

When Jesus came, you’d think his people would have understood that God was providing deliverance through him, but they did not. (Acts 7:25)

Instead they rejected their Ruler and Judge. (Acts 7:27)

Though he performed signs and wonders, though he himself was the living oracle of God, they were unwilling to obey him and pushed him aside. (Acts 7:36, 38-39)

But what really struck me today was this: With all the men closing their ears and screaming to drown out Stephen’s words, one man among them eventually became one of the Jesus’ greatest apostles, spreading the good news that “Jesus is Lord” throughout the Roman empire.

Which tells me that even the hardest heart can be changed by the power of God’s love.

So as I think of one such man right now, that’s what I’m praying for. That the love of God, his family, and the Christians around him can break through his hardened heart like the dawn and bring salvation.

Who is God putting on your heart now?

What’s important to God

You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your ancestors did, you do also. (Acts 7:51)

The Jewish leaders had made serious accusations against Stephen, charging him with speaking against the temple and God’s law (6:13-14).

But in Stephen’s words above, we see it was the Jewish leaders who were in rebellion against God.

Just as the Israelites had rejected previous saviors in Joseph (Genesis 37:8, 26-28; 45:5-7) and Moses (Acts 7:27, 39), they had now rejected Jesus.

And though the Jewish leaders claimed to value the law, like their ancestors who persecuted the prophets, they broke the law multiple times in having Jesus murdered.

Moreover, though they valued the temple, it was for the wrong reasons. The building itself wasn’t so important to God. No man-made structure could ever contain God. Rather, it was a symbol of his presence among his people. (Acts 7:47-50)

As John points out in his gospel, Jesus is the true temple (John 2:19-21).

In Jesus, God took on human flesh and dwelt (literally, “set up his tabernacle”, John 1:14) among us. And yet, the Jewish leaders didn’t value the true temple. Rather, they crucified him.

What is important to God? It’s that we honor his Son. It’s that we obey him. As the Father himself said,

This is my beloved Son; listen to him! (Mark 9:7)

Lord, you are the one that law pointed to. You are the one that the tabernacle and the temple pointed to.

Forgive me for the times I’ve resisted your Spirit. Forgive me for the times I’ve stubbornly closed my heart and ears to you.

You sacrificed your life for me on the cross. I have no desire to crucify you again in my heart (Hebrews 6:6).

You are worthy of my love, my honor, and obedience. Help me to give that to you every day.

I do love you, Lord. It’s so incredible to me that you loved me first, giving your life for me. Thank you. In your name I pray, amen.