PREOCCUPIED OR PURPOSEFUL?
- Key Verse
- "However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. . . . was it not my hand which made all these things? You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. . . . you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it." (Acts 7:48a; 50; 51; 53)
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Central Truth
God does not dwell in our man-made structures whether physical or spiritual. Because of His Son's sacrifice, He dwells within us! Even with such a magnificent gift given so freely, we, at times, still resist His Spirit and do not keep Him first in our lives.
Reflections
Was there a man as full of the Holy Spirit as Stephen? When he stood accused before the Sanhedrin, he was able to use God's Word, our Old Testament, to refute each and every accusation! As I read and study this passage, I keep coming back to the conviction that I can be very stiff-necked. I want my own way and sometimes am too lazy to allow God's Holy Spirit to speak to and use me. I don't like admitting that, but it's true. I can get so preoccupied with my daily schedule that I forget to include the One who has made it all possible.Yet, I want to be full of the Holy Spirit like Stephen. I want to know God's Word so well that I can recall it at a moment's notice to encourage someone or explain why I believe. I want to hear the Holy Spirit speak to me and lead me to those who desperately need a word, a touch, or a listening ear. That will take time--time spent reading God's Word, time spent in conversation with God--not just praying, but listening, too; and time spent in personal worship. It's amazing: I don't have to go to the tabernacle for any of it! God's Spirit dwells in me (1 Corinthians 3:16), He is with me always (Matthew 28:20b), and I can do any of these things at any time of the day or night. And so can you.
As we begin a new year, I pray that we will all grow into a deeper relationship with our Lord. I know that I am going to be very purposeful about the spiritual disciplines of Bible reading, prayer and personal worship. My goal for this next year is to keep my heart open to be used by Him.
Discussion Questions
- Do you make time to stop and converse with God every day?
- How can you open up your heart toward God?
- What can you do to give God first place in your life?
Comments
The views expressed under “Comments” are solely
those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Grace Community Church.
Rick Black
January 22, 2010 09:16 AM
It's a great point you make about not needing to go to the tabernacle to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The people Stephen was testifying to were full of the Tabernacle, but empty of Spirit. Thanks for the devotion.
Susan Miner
January 22, 2010 11:28 AM
Thank you, Lori. I so related to what you said. Susan Miner
Kelly Spencer
January 22, 2010 01:23 PM
Lori, How incredibly simple and so true! That was very encouraging and am spurred on to work harder to be more and more faithful. Thanks Kelly Spencer
JoAnn Gillispie
January 25, 2010 10:36 AM
I am discovering that my relationship with Jesus grows when I am in purposeful and passionate pursuit to hear God's voice. In my journey as a Believer & in Celebrate Recovery at Grace it is essential that I stop my busy life and make time to converse in order to follow the 7th Principle ( Reserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bile reading,and prayer in order to know God and his will for my life and to gain the power to follow his will.).I am challenged to relinquish control every day and chose to find strength, hope,and wisdom from the Bible and in prayer, not from myself. Stephen had a passion that came from knowing the Word and it it enabled him to follow God's will. That is my prayer, too, finding the passion to follow God's will today.