“‘You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you… who received the law… and did not keep it.’
“When they heard these things they were enraged, and ground their teeth at him. But [Stephen], full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep.
“And Saul approved of his execution.
“There arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles… Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
“Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.” Acts 7:51,53-8:1,3-4
Stephen gave bold and thorough voice to the gospel, and guilty crowds hated the pointed, biting conviction, so they stoned him. Little did they know that killing the truth-teller does not eliminate the truth. The following persecution of believers served to spread the gospel far and wide, increasing rather than squelching its impact. Eyes opened, the possessed were freed, debilitations were healed, joy abounded. The ravaged church ignited to a changed, charged church that could not be stopped. (Acts 8:5-13)
Many a ‘truth’ is promoted today by individuals and through the media. Crowds are drawn and swayed to prophesies, superficial soundbites, feel-good promises, and flashy deeds. Lives might even be changed in cursory but real ways. (2 Timothy 4:1-3)
Yet when the gospel is proclaimed, the power of the Lord is unleashed. Genuine condemnation penetrates the heart, and we must respond, either by rejecting or receiving. Those convicted in spirit might turn to persecute the messenger, which in turn invites condemnation. Those who humbly let truth’s conviction have its way will proliferate the good hope it ensures. Which is it for me? (Hebrews 4:12)
Am I even exposing myself to hard truths, or do I resist the refining fire of God’s beautiful word? Have I experience of being persecuted for my commitment to obedience and bold proclamation of God’s word? If so, how has it served either to quench or to spread the flames of good news? (Matthew 5:11-12; Romans 12:14; 2 Timothy 3:12; 4:2)
How has God’s word changed me- in outlook, desires, language, attitude, character, industry? What has it burned away, what new passion has it stoked? Where has the Lord ignited His gospel through me to bring life change in my home, workplace, neighborhood? If we are faithful to the proclamation, heard or expressed, the Spirit of God will see to its proliferation in His way, place, and time. (2 Timothy 3:16)
Lord, may I faithfully receive and proclaim your gospel, and so proliferate its beauties and power, to your glory.
As the rain and snow 