Acts 6:8-10
"And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke."
It's often said you can't argue anyone to Christ. Our attempts at logic, persuasion, and testimonies are met with reactions which range from ambivalence to open hostility. But while that may be true on my part, it doesn't hold true for the Spirit. When man applies his wisdom to the Spirit's touch, he cannot resist the truth of the Spirit's wisdom.
With Stephen, those who opposed the gospel of Jesus Christ found they could refute neither Stephen's arguments for Christ, nor the testimony of the Spirit upon their souls. The word which they heard rang true in the hearts. But sadly, instead of coming to faith, they chose to kill the messenger, condemning Stephen to a horrible death by stoning.
As believers, we often feel the sting of rejection from those find they cannot resist the testimony of the Spirit upon their hearts. This rejection of God's word is enacted upon us through unfounded anger, deceptions, gossip, hatred and arrogance.
Even when we've not been the instrument through which God has been speaking, unbelievers unfairly lash out at believers, often times, not even knowing their own motivations. Quite frankly, I see this in the printed media as I read various news journals. Now days, it seems every journalist prides themselves in being accepting of every faith, but when it comes to Christianity, these same standards of decency no longer apply.
Listen, I don't think the unbelieving world even realizes that they're being used of Satan, but it should come as no surprise to followers of Christ. When the world cannot resist the Spirit, they lash out against those of the Church of Jesus Christ.
As believers, we need to learn to be proud to bear the scars of a life lived for Christ. Not that we seek persecution, but that in some of our trials, we may find that we've been a part of the Spirit's work in our communities.
LORD JESUS
Lord, I thank you for the wisdom of the Spirit in this world, testifying of the truth of Jesus Christ. May my life be given over fully to you, even if this means unfair treatment because I bear the name of Christ. Amen.
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