What Do You Bring Me?
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Acts 7:42 The Context: Stephen was a very outspoken and effective follower of Jesus after the Resurrection. He attracted attention and opposition from various Jewish groups who strongly objected to the claims about Jesus. Unable to effectively disprove Stephens messages about Jesus these opponents reported the lie that Stephen was saying blasphemous things about Moses, God, the Temple and the Law. These accusations aroused the anger of the High Priest who called Stephen in to defend himself. Stephen gave a detailed description of his beliefs regarding Moses and the history of the Jews. All went well until Stephen began quoting Old Testament Prophets. Stephen reminded them of the Prophet Amos through whom God challenged Israel to remember that their offerings and sacrifices were given right along side their worship of a variety of heathen gods. Stephen was challenging his questioners to realize the hypocrisies of their own worship. This infuriated the High Priest and the listening leaders so much that they ordered Stephen stoned for his blasphemy.
God Asks Us: 42 But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: “ ‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices, during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
43 You took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; …
JNE: God gave the Jews instructions about what would please and appease Him. It was always fundamentally a heart request but The children of Israel, like all of us, thought it was only the physical behaviors God was interested in. So they gave sacrifices without having repentant and dependent hearts. They thought that as long as they killed animals and sacrificed carcasses God would be pleased. And, revealing their distant hearts, they thought they would cover all the bases and appeal to the gods of the people around them as well. How easy it is for us to go through the motions of worship but not really worship God at all. He wants my heart and life not just some superficial ceremony no matter how elaborate or popular it may be. Jesus gave His very life for us. Nothing but our own lives can appropriately honor and enjoy His love for us.
Read "The Gospel?"
Acts 7:42 The Context: Stephen was a very outspoken and effective follower of Jesus after the Resurrection. He attracted attention and opposition from various Jewish groups who strongly objected to the claims about Jesus. Unable to effectively disprove Stephens messages about Jesus these opponents reported the lie that Stephen was saying blasphemous things about Moses, God, the Temple and the Law. These accusations aroused the anger of the High Priest who called Stephen in to defend himself. Stephen gave a detailed description of his beliefs regarding Moses and the history of the Jews. All went well until Stephen began quoting Old Testament Prophets. Stephen reminded them of the Prophet Amos through whom God challenged Israel to remember that their offerings and sacrifices were given right along side their worship of a variety of heathen gods. Stephen was challenging his questioners to realize the hypocrisies of their own worship. This infuriated the High Priest and the listening leaders so much that they ordered Stephen stoned for his blasphemy.
God Asks Us: 42 But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: “ ‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices, during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
43 You took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; …
JNE: God gave the Jews instructions about what would please and appease Him. It was always fundamentally a heart request but The children of Israel, like all of us, thought it was only the physical behaviors God was interested in. So they gave sacrifices without having repentant and dependent hearts. They thought that as long as they killed animals and sacrificed carcasses God would be pleased. And, revealing their distant hearts, they thought they would cover all the bases and appeal to the gods of the people around them as well. How easy it is for us to go through the motions of worship but not really worship God at all. He wants my heart and life not just some superficial ceremony no matter how elaborate or popular it may be. Jesus gave His very life for us. Nothing but our own lives can appropriately honor and enjoy His love for us.
Read "The Gospel?"