One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. Romans 14:5-9
Twelve years ago my son John passed away after a 21 year battle with schizophrenia. He was and still is a Christian. The following week I started writing a Daily Devotional on Facebook. One, as a memorial to John. Two, as a way of saying thank you to those who had supported us. I tell you this story because as I wrote my Facebook Devotional today, I realized how perfectly it dovetailed with what I am writing for my church.
When Stephen was speaking to the Sanhedrin, they were listening but weren’t really listening. Figuratively, they had their fingers in their ears. Maybe not even figuratively! They had their minds made up. Stephen would not leave their presence alive. They were failing to practice something that I sadly miss seeing in our world every day.
As we move towards a momentous Presidential election in a few more months, I see so many talking but not actually thinking about what they are saying. Their minds are made up as well. Fingers are inserted in their ears. They fail to hear those they are speaking to. They miss this.
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” James 1:19-20
This is a skill that takes practice, and it is one I must admit I must work much harder at. But there is a larger issue at play here. It is not about winning arguments. It is about being a light in a hate-darkened world. That is what we are called to do. I will finish with some wonderful words from Paul, who was there at the stoning of Stephen. Seeds were planted.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4
by Bruce Hanson
Note. To access scripture links that don’t appear in the email version, read the differently formatted web version in your browser.
