Hebrews 11:37, “They were stoned to death, they were sawn in
two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and
goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented.”
There is a story in 2 Chronicles 24 that tells how King
Joash gave the command to stone Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, a high priest
from whom the king had received kindness. However after his death the king
listened to other counsel and abandoned God to serve idols. When the Spirit of
God came upon Zechariah and he proclaimed. “Because
you have forsaken the Lord, He also has forsaken you,” they stoned him to
death in the court of the house of the Lord. But his words remained behind as
testimony.
In Acts 7 when Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, bore
witness against his accusers unrepentant hearts, he too was stoned to death.
Those who stoned him laid their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul,
who agreed with the persecution of believers. And Stephen’s words remained
behind as testimony to those present and to us today.
Most of us have experienced the reality of the schoolyard
chant that “sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”
And we know that in fact words can hurt deeper and longer. Words penetrate to
our hearts. Too many times as wounds. Yet they can also bring truth into the
open—into light—for redemption.
These two men witnessed unto death the Lord’s words. How
reluctant I have been so many times to speak out because of the possibility of
ridicule and sharp-edged words.
But God gave them the words to speak, and the Spirit gave
them the strength to endure the consequences, and their witness brought about
new faith as the words took root.
Lord, please give us courage to speak Your truth in our
lives, through our actions, and with our speech.
Psalm of Worship: Psalm 118:22-23
“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief
cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.”
