Morning Devotional December 2, 2017

Acts 7:54

“When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.”

Just before this verse we see that great man of God, Stephen, give an oral history of the people of Israel to those men who have been stirred up by the likes of Saul(Paul). These men were the hierarchy of the Jews in that day. They have accused Stephen of speaking blasphemy against God and His Word. They have stirred up the people and are demanding the priest in the court to prosecute Stephen unto death.

What was Stephen speaking that so had these people in an uproar? Stephen was preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ! With his preaching Stephen was telling the sins of the people and explaining that Christ was their only hope. Yet the people accused him of blasphemy.

With Stephen's oral history he has just given, they are cut to the heart because of the sins of their forefathers and even of themselves that he has pointed out. Stephen took them all the way back to Moses and the exodus from Egypt. As Jeremiah did in his day. They are reminded that their sins are nothing new. They are reminded that God has been long-suffering with His people. At anytime God had justification to destroy them all, but that was not His sovereign plan. God had chosen them to be His people and even though they continued to seek the lust of “Egypt” He still loved them.

All through history God has put men in place to prophesy and preach His Word. We see the Prophets of old. The Apostles. Even Christ Himself. Through out the Dark Ages. And in our day God still has men He uses to stand and preach the hard cold facts of His Word. Men that God uses to warn others of things to come. Men God uses to warn of the sins of God's people and churches. Men who, by God's grace, are not afraid to preach the whole council of God.

And just like in the days yore “When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.”

O child of God, follow Christ!!! Listen to the ones whom our Lord sends to spread His message. Study what they write and say. Make sure who you are listening and reading are proclaiming the truth of God's Word. Before disagreeing with God's man, study what he has said. Search the scripture. Seek the face of the Lord in these matters. Be not hasty to condemn one on some tradition or thought. Give head to the Word of God on all matters. Then give God the glory when He opens your understanding to matters of contention!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!