Read the Word:
Acts 7:17-29
Meditate on the Word:
This passage is an excerpt from the sermon that Stephen gave after being accused of blasphemy. He spoke the truth, and people did not want to hear it. In fact, they were so displeased by his message of Christ that they stoned him. Of course, this one event would cause the scattering of the disciples and the spread of the gospel throughout the land. All this happened because Stephen would not back down from telling the truth. After being accused of speaking blasphemous words against Moses (v. 11), Stephen recites the history of their nation to them, reminding them of the first time their ancestors rejected the teaching of Moses.
This rejection would drive Moses into the desert and it would be another 40 years before Moses would return to rescue God’s people. I wonder, however, what would have happened if these two had listened and stopped their fighting? While we cannot say that God would have rescued them from Egypt sooner, we can safely say that God does not want His people fighting with each other. God used this incident with Moses to get him into the desert to prepare him to rescue His people. God used the incident with Stephen to spread the gospel. But I have to wonder, what would happen if we quit fighting with each other and started listening to God?
Pray the Word:
Think of someone that you may have a quarrel with. Pray for wisdom in dealing with that person today.
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