Skip to main content

Acts 7 - Questions for reflection, conversation & prayer

St. Stephen by Luis de Morales

This week we waded into Acts 7, Stephen's speech to those who have grown suspicious of his actions.  For the first 50 verses, Stephen gives what amounts to an Old Testament history lesson - recalling the stories of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and the Israelites journey from slavery through the wilderness to their settling down in the Promised Land.

In v. 51, though, he turns a corner.  He begins to chastise his audience for resisting the Holy Spirit, for thwarting God's movement in their lives.

In looking at Stephen's speech, we talked about the movie A Man Called Ove, the story of a man whose experienced so much heartache and trouble that he's giving up on life.  He wants to return the ticket.  Ove is, I believe, an important study on why it can be hard to keep trusting God and to let God lead us.

Where do you sense God inviting you to "follow him"?  As you think about going in this direction with Jesus, what feelings do you have?  Excitement?  Freedom?  Worry?  Hesitation?

St. Ignatius talks about three different "persons."  Person number one is like the rich young man in the Gospels.  Person number one likes the idea of following God, but finds it just too demanding or scary to let go.

Person number two is willing to try something new, but this person is like Peter walking on water.  Person number two takes a few steps of trust in trying out a "new way," but feels inadequate or overwhelmed by it all.  Person number two often resorts back to the more comfortable life.

Finally, person number three is "completely free" to let God take them wherever, to serve whomever.  Person number three is radically free.  Person number three says "yes" to God and to the Spirit's leading.

It's very rare for us to become person number three, although that is always our goal.  We long to be "free" so that God can use us whenever, however.

More often, we are more like person number one or two.  It's not about beating ourselves up over this reality or getting down.  The goal is to keep asking God for the courage to try again.

Where, in your life, do you feel like person number one?

Person number two?

Person number three?

There are a few reasons why we find it hard to be fully free.

One, as fallen people, we cling to earthly "attachments" for security.  Money, possessions, our status, a certain way of "doing things" become part of how we maintain safety and a sense of having control.

What things do you feel insulate you from hearing Jesus' invitation to "follow him"?  Can you offer up a prayer where you just tell Jesus that you are relying on these things?

Two, letting God lead us isn't always easy.  In fact, to let God lead us "into the way of Christ" means venturing into places and situations that are "costly."

This seems to be the lesson from the story of Ove.  Life was becoming terribly hard for him to swallow.  It seemed "bitter" like what Jesus experienced on the cross.  In such moments, we might long to be done with letting God leads us.  It can taste like death.

Try giving God the honesty of your heart, letting God know how difficult this is for you.  Sometimes, it helps too to find friends, counselors and spiritual guides with whom we can share the painful moments of our journey as a follower.

Close with a prayer this week:  

Good and gracious God, I know that your deepest desires for me are for fullness of life, for comfort and for rest.  But, Lord, sometimes the journey seems so difficult.  I hear about the stories of Abraham and Sarah, and it's scary to think how long they had to sit in the posture of "waiting."  I hear about the story of the people in the wilderness, and it scares me to think about not having much earthly security or comfort.  Jesus, please remind me that you will walk with me down this road, that you will not forsake me.  Help me to walk by faith, and catch me when I fall.  Amen.





 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acts 2:42-47 - Questions for Reflection & Study

This past Sunday, we took a look at Luke's first summary passage in the story of Acts:  chapter 2, verses 42-47.  Here, Luke is presenting a billboard of what the Church looks like at its best.  He is trying to convince Theophilus that Christianity is worth his attention.  The early Church captures what all of us are looking for, whether we know it or not.  This is a close community that truly cares for one another, where everyone truly is seen as a brother and sister, and where no one person is considered more or less important as the other.  Needs are being met.  There is joy in their fellowship.  Take a moment to think about a time in your life when you experienced the joy and blessing of a deep, loving community?  Where was it, and what made this community so different?  What role did you play in this community? Luke tells us the disciples "devoted themselves" to four essential practices.  The Greek word for "devoted" ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Acts 5:1-11 - Questions for reflection & prayer

This past Sunday we looked at one of the more unsettling stories in the Book of Acts :  the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira.  As shared by Luke, this couple sold a piece of land and then proceeded to bring only a portion of the profit to the apostles - laying it at their feet for the good of the community.  However, what appeared to be their grave mistake (pun intended) was their collusion in claiming to have brought all the proceeds to the apostles when - in fact - they were keeping some back for themselves.  Peter announces first to Ananias the Lord's judgment, followed by a similar verdict being handed down to Sapphira a short time later. Seen by itself, this is a strange story, but it begins to make more sense when we see it as "part of the whole."  The story of Ananias and Sapphira comes right after we hear once again of the community's unity and generosity, including their willingness to share their own goods and resources to take care of one another (ch....
Post a Comment
Read more

Touchdown Jesus

For the second consecutive year, I traveled up US 31 to South Bend, Indiana on a beautiful fall day. I traveled with Curtis Lawrence, and we went for the sole purpose of watching the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team take the field. Now, I must note that it was my childhood dream to attend Notre Dame. Even loftier, it was also my dream - like many young boys growing up in Indiana - to suit up for the Fighting Irish. Surprisingly - even with such hopes - I had never actually visited the campus. For the first thirty years of my life, I never set foot on one of the more storied and celebrated college campus and football meccas in America. That absence was broken, though, when I made that first trip up to South Bend last year. Let me tell you: even after all those years of waiting, the campus and football stadium at Notre Dame lived up to all the out-sized expectations I had. Like most places of prominence, Notre Dame Stadium really cannot be described through words. It is so...
Post a Comment
Read more