Keep Telling It Like It Is!

It is difficult to be the one who is the bearer of unwelcome news isn‘t it? For example, the weatherman can sometimes upset people just by predicting that it’s going to rain on a scheduled football game weekend. It’s not his fault, yet he still takes the heat for bringing the unwelcome message.

Similarly, when Stephen addressed the religious leaders of Israel in Acts 7, he incurred their wrath, simply because he boldly told them the truth about themselves. He criticized their ancestors and implicated the whole council in the murder of Christ. Everything he said was true and they knew it.

What did they do with this strong indictment? They could have had the same penitent attitude as those Jews had in Acts 2:36-37 after hearing Peter’s stirring inspired sermon, but instead they “gnashed at him with their teeth” (Acts 7:54). They threw him out of the city and put him to death, simply because he told the truth (John 17:17).

Beloved, when we speak out for purity, righteousness, self-control, and godliness in a sinful, pleasure-loving world that seems destined to self-destruct, we too will be criticized and persecuted (2 Timothy 3:10-12; cf. Matthew 10:16-22; Luke 21:10-17).

But no matter what happens to us, we can call on God as Stephen did (Acts 7:59-60), taking comfort in knowing that He will soon vindicate us (Luke 18:6-8).

As God’s elect people, let us pray for the courage to keep telling it like it is (Ephesians 6:17-20), no matter who the opposition might be (2 Timothy 4:1-5; cf. Matthew 10:34-37; Acts 20:28-31; 2 Peter 2:1).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets