Lessons Unlearned
Opening Prayer
As you prepare to be with God now, thank God that he is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Read Acts 7:35-53
[35] “This is the same Moses they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. [36] He led them out of Egypt and performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the wilderness. [37] “This is the Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people.’ [38] He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us. [39] “But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. [40] They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt-we don’t know what has happened to him!’ [41] That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made. [42] But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets: “‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel? [43] You have taken up the tabernacle of Molek and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile’ beyond Babylon. [44] “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. [45] After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, [46] who enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. [47] But it was Solomon who built a house for him. [48] “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: [49] “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? [50] Has not my hand made all these things?’ [51] “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! [52] Was there ever a prophet your ancestors 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 given through angels but have not obeyed it.” Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What accusation(s) did Stephen level against his listeners?Stephen’s audience was made up of Israel’s religious leaders. They didn’t need a history lesson. They knew very well how God had worked in the past, as well as how many times his people had been unfaithful and had refused to listen to his prophets. Until v. 50 they were probably agreeing with every word. Then suddenly Stephen is telling them that they are just like those who had rejected the prophets in the past. It’s easy to agree with God’s Word–when we read it or hear it preached–as long as it seems to be talking about someone else. We have no problem condemning other people for doing what they did. Sometimes, when listening to a sermon, I catch myself thinking how good it is that so-and-so is there to hear it because they really need to change. Often we are just like these Jewish leaders. They knew how their ancestors had erred, yet they failed to recognize the same behaviors in themselves. We, too, learn the lessons of history as they apply to historical figures, and the lessons of Scripture as they apply to those around us. But all too often we don’t apply these lessons to our own hearts and lives.
Apply
What lessons of Scripture might need to be applied to your heart and life? How will you do it?
Closing prayer
Lord God, make me slow to judge others, quick to recognize my own failings, and to repent. Thank You.
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