The Lord said to Moses, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have seen the mistreatment of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning; I have come down to rescue them.” – Stephen before the Council, Acts 7:33-34
In the midst of Stephen’s speech, which concludes by indicting the religious leaders as “stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears,” who are “forever opposing the Holy Spirit,” he recounts God’s faithfulness and the way God acted on the people’s behalf. The God who rescues is often resisted. The God who redeems is often not received (see John 1:11).
And Jesus, who most perfectly reveals God to us, is sometimes rejected, even despised (see Isaiah 53:3). May our oft-reluctant nature yield to God’s goodness and faithfulness today as we say “yes” to the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Joe
