How can we ensure we are not like those who stoned Stephen? Stephen’s Tragic Moment Acts 7:58 — “They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.” What Went Wrong in Their Hearts? • Hardened to conviction — Acts 7:51 • Blinded by religious pride — Matthew 23:27 • Fueled by anger instead of truth — James 1:20 • United around opposition, not obedience — Psalm 2:1–2 Heart Check: Are Those Seeds in Us? • Do I resist the Spirit’s prompting? Hebrews 3:15 • Do I defend traditions more than Scripture? Mark 7:8 • Do I silence voices that challenge me? Proverbs 12:1 • Do I justify harshness “for God’s sake”? John 16:2 Choosing a Better Way 1. Cultivate humility – 1 Peter 5:5 “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” – Regular confession keeps the soil soft. 2. Listen before reacting – James 1:19 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” – Pause; ask, “Lord, is this Your truth confronting me?” 3. Treasure Scripture over status – Acts 17:11 “The Bereans were more noble… examining the Scriptures daily.” – Let the Word judge every opinion, even cherished ones. 4. Welcome conviction as grace – Proverbs 3:11–12; Revelation 3:19 – Correction is proof of God’s love, not an attack to repel. 5. Stay filled with the Spirit – The Spirit produces softness, love, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). Living It Out Daily • Begin the day asking, “Search me, O God” (Psalm 139:23–24). • Read Scripture with an open notebook—write what challenges you. • Invite trusted believers to speak truth into your life. • When confronted, respond with prayer before words. • Celebrate every moment of repentance; it’s victory over a stony heart. The Promise Ezekiel 36:26 — “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Remain yielded, and that promise keeps you far from the crowd that stoned Stephen, standing instead with the Savior who received him. |
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