44 “The tent of testimony was with our ancestors in the wilderness. Moses built it just as he had been instructed by the one who spoke to him and according to the pattern he had seen. 45 In time, when they had received the tent, our ancestors carried it with them when, under Joshua’s leadership, they took possession of the land from the nations whom God expelled. This tent remained in the land until the time of David. 46 God approved of David, who asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 But it was Solomon who actually built a house for God. 48 However, the Most High doesn’t live in houses built by human hands. As the prophet says,
49 Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
‘What kind of house will you build for me,’ says the Lord,
‘or where is my resting place?
50 Didn’t I make all these things with my own hand?’
51 “You stubborn people! In your thoughts and hearing, you are like those who have had no part in God’s covenant! You continuously set yourself against the Holy Spirit, just like your ancestors did. 52 Was there a single prophet your ancestors didn’t harass? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the righteous one, and you’ve betrayed and murdered him! 53 You received the Law given by angels, but you haven’t kept it.”
Reflection
Acts 7 tells the story of Stephen’s powerful witness to the high priest and the Sanhedrin about Jesus Christ. Stephen’s testimony results in his subsequent sentencing to be stoned to death, and becoming the first Christian martyr. Stephen pointed out that they had made an idol out of the temple in Jerusalem, that the magnificent temple built by Solomon had become the center of Israel’s life, a man made idol, rather than the place to worship God. Stephen accuses
them of trying to locate God to a place “built by human hands.” He accuses them of being no better than the pagans who worship man made idols in their temples. Stephen then accuses them of failing to keep God’s laws, rejecting God and murdering the prophets and the Messiah, Jesus, all sent by God. It’s no wonder they were outraged and drug Stephen out to be
executed by stoning.
Too often, we too, have made our places of worship the places where we shut out others and fail to follow Jesus’ example of loving God and our neighbor. Sometimes our focus can become so inward, that we forget we are called to go out into the world and tell others about God’s love. I’m not saying that we don’t find times of solace and experience feeling closer to God in our churches; I know that I have had those moments in the presence of the Spirit, but
God isn’t confined to only one place. The Spirit of God can’t be put in a box and only visited
by us on Sunday’s during worship time. We are God’s creation and not the ones who get to tell God what to do or where God should be. Instead God has created us to be the living temples where God’s Holy Spirit dwells, transforming us to be more like Jesus. We are the hands and feet of Jesus bringing the good news out into the world that hungers for the love and peace that only God can give. We need to be vigilant that we aren’t trying to put God in a
box that fits our own expectations.
by Jeneene Reduker
For Pondering and Prayer
Stephen’s words of truth angered the leaders of the Temple and Jerusalem. The religious authorities had put God in a box. They saw that what Stephen said would have an impact on their system they had created for worshipping God. They completely lost their way by not following God’s law of love towards God and their neighbor. Rather than repent and turn back
to God, they killed Stephen to silence him. We need to asks ourselves if we have put God in a box, that we only worship on Sundays’. By keeping God at arms length we don’t have to confront the truth in our hearts when the Spirit speaks to us. Have you put God in a box in your life?
Prayer: Holy and Loving God, forgive us for trying to define you and confine you, by boxing you in to fit into our own expectations. Renew our hearts and rekindle your Spirit that lives within us, and transform us to be more like Jesus, Amen.
