Our chapel stories this week have been about Stephen. In his final sermon, Stephen told about when Moses attempted to break up the fight between two Hebrew men, trying to reconcile them.
But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, "Who made you a ruler and judge over us?" (Acts 7:27)
Pastor pointed out how they "pushed him away." God sends a redeemer, a prophet, a reconciler, a savior. And how did they respond? They pushed him away.
But God didn't renege on the promise He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses still brought them out of slavery. In the wilderness, the children of Israel continued to push Moses away. Still the Lord stayed faithful to them for the sake of His promise. Then came the time of the judges. Then their desire for a king. And all the while, the people pushed away the prophets God sent.
But still He sent His Son. "Surely they will respect My Son" (Matthew 21:37).
Or not.
But still He remains faithful.
PS: It is really interesting to listen to that sermon while you're thinking about it from Paul's perspective. After all, Paul was there. A ring-leader. A murderer. Saul of Tarsus heard Stephen's sermon and hated it. But he was the one who was the eye-witness, the one who told the story to Luke to record. Amazing to listen to this sermon through Paul's eyes, seeing how some of what he wrote to the Corinthians he first heard from Stephen in this sermon! God's word will not return to Him void but will accomplish the purpose for which He sent it.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Susan, As I read, I was thinking about how there are parishioners out there who say and even DO the very same physical thing to the shepherd God gives them. Sometimes surprisingly, God still grants forgiveness and pastors to deliver the gifts to those people. We all too quickly write a person or family off, but God did not write Moses off or Paul.
ReplyDeletePart of me has a really hard time with that...even though I know, "What God ordains is always good..."