Furious. The word in the Greek means "sawn in two." The gallery of men who Stephen faces overflow with furious hate, grinding their teeth, for this follower of the Son of Man. Acts 7:54. And it is that "Son of Man" who is at the very center of Stephen's life. Look how he expounds on being a son of Abraham and presenting his case to those who call Stephen an apostate, a blasphemor. Stephen knew the Story. This follower compared Israel's repeated disobedience to the very present rejection of the Savior of the World. He knew the answers that God had been giving from Genesis to Malachi. A scholar and a servant and a struggler. What is at the very center of my life? What is my center?
"Are these things so?" Acts 7:1 asks the High Priest. Absolutely. Stephen was prepared to die for the Truth. He had allowed that Son of Man to use his life for His Glory. The man was "drunk with love." Song of Sol 5:1. Charles Spurgeon writes: "We must be made meet here" on earth because there is no sanctifying in heaven, no squaring with affliction, no pruning us with suffering there. God is making us ready on earth. Spurgeon said: "Our afflictions cannot sanctify except God uses it to His End; our prayers and efforts cannot make us ready apart from God who fashions our hearts aright." So be it. Amen. Amen.
Acts 7:9 "And Yet God was with him" - "Worry kills, but confidence in God is like healing medicine" - Spurgeon
ReplyDeleteStephen knew the Word, used the truth as a sword (defense). God's Word is truth. We can take Him at His Word.
Praying this morning for Annette's SIL, friend Cathy and Mary Lou as each faces pain (mental, physical, emotional). God, you are Jehovah-Rapha, the one who heals! Surround your loved ones with comfort, peace and a sense of Your presence that overwhelms. Amen
Thank you, 'Nise, Mary Lou, Bev, for your prayers yesterday and this morning. No word yet on my son in law's MRI but will keep you posted. Cathy's tests are ongoing, but each time the fear can fall over her like it's the first time. (she's had to deal with it on and off for 17 yrs)
ReplyDeletePraying for you this morning, Mary Lou, for healing, for freedom from fear, for His mercies to fall new upon you.
Bev, what a visual image of the Greek meaning of furious--anger does indeed saw us in two pieces, and prevents us from seeing the kind of unity and one accord of the Acts church. God is making us ready. Set our hearts aright. Amen, indeed.
Thank you for your prayers. The MRI was a piece of cake, after having several eleven years ago with my head hurting really, really bad this was no problem. Plus my back is 1000 percent better. Hurts so little compared to this time last Friday and the pain in my right leg is not bad and not there all of the time. God is good all of the time, in the pain and out of the pain. Will get the results next Wed when I see the doctor.
ReplyDeletePraying for your son in law and friend and for you Nise' and your pain. Bev, has such a way with giving us such great visuals of the scripture. What a gift...what a blessing..
Good news, Mary Lou. Will pray for good results on Wednesdat...
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