January 17 | Acts 7:54-60

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DAILY READING

Acts 7:54-60; Jude 17-25 & Ephesians 6:10-18

REFLECTION

Responding to Distortions & Attacks

By Todd Marti

As I dug into today’s reading, I was struck by its similarity to yesterday’s reading, Jude 17-25. I was also struck by how both readings parallel Ephesians 6:10-18. Given that God often repeats Himself  when He communicates key precepts, it strikes me that we should spend some time looking at the directions given in all three of those scriptures.

Initially, it is important to note all three address the same dynamic: that some will seek to distort or suppress the truths that Jesus gave us.  The broader context of today’s reading describes how the Jewish religious leaders killed a particularly effective messenger of that truth and persecuted the very early church in Jerusalem. See Acts 6:8-15; 7:54-8:3. Similar actions against the church as it spread were addressed in Ephesians 6:10-18. Jude addressed folks who attempted to thwart the church through false teaching and poor examples. 

Each of those scriptures identified three ways to respond to those things.

The first is to focus on the truth God has revealed to evaluate and respond to those distortions/threats.  Acts 7:55 (NASB)  tells us that St. Stephen “gazed intently” at what the Holy Spirit had revealed. Jude 17  tells us to remember the truths revealed by the Apostles. Ephesians 6:14  tells us to make truth central to our responses to distortions/attacks. Each of those scriptures tell us to use scriptural truth as the benchmark for identifying and responding to distortions and attacks. 

The second is to pray and pray hard. Acts 7:59 and 60 tell us that St. Stephen “prayed” and “cried out” to God in the midst of the attack against him, and the underlying Greek words describe intense prayer. Jude 20 tells us to respond by “praying in the Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 6:18 similarly tells us “pray in the Spirit.”  That makes sense because we cannot adequately respond to distortions/attacks on our own. We need God’s wisdom and strength, so we must ask Him for it.

The third is to not completely write off the individuals who make the distortions/attacks. That is implicit in today’s reading; one of those attackers was “Saul,” who later became St. Paul, one of the greatest expositors of God’s truths. See  Acts 7:58; 8:1; 8:3. Similarly, Jude 23  tells us to extend mercy to those distorting the faith despite their corruption. That is also implicit in Ephesians 6:12’s  reminder that the source of distortions and attacks is not the individuals who make them, but something behind them.

Those principles continue to be relevant today. The distortions/attacks addressed in Acts, Jude, and Ephesians have receded into history, but new ones emerge in every age. Today they include Christian nationalism, the subordination of scriptural principles to political allegiances, and the prosperity gospel.  New distortions/threats will undoubtably arise as time goes by. We will therefore be wise to keep these principles in mind.

PRAYER

Lord, draw us ever more fully into your word because it is truth. Draw us ever more fully into ongoing conversation with you so we can receive your wisdom.  Fill us with your love and mercy, even for those who distort your truth and attack your church. We ask these things in the name of the one who is truth itself—Jesus the Christ.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TODD MARTI

I have been connected to UALC since 2000 in various small groups and as a co-manager of the UALC Community Garden. I’m married to Kelly Marti, and the proud father of Sarah Marti. I am happy to be writing these devotions.