If we had a friend who tried to talk to us, and we ignored them, eventually they would quit talking. We couldn’t blame them and we would probably be the same way if it were the other way around.
Acts 7:51-53 (MSG)
51-53 “And you continue, so bullheaded! Calluses on your hearts, flaps on your ears! Deliberately ignoring the Holy Spirit, you’re just like your ancestors. Was there ever a prophet who didn’t get the same treatment? Your ancestors killed anyone who dared talk about the coming of the Just One. And you’ve kept up the family tradition—traitors and murderers, all of you. You had God’s Law handed to you by angels—gift-wrapped!—and you squandered it!”
Stephen had been dragged in front of the high council. The men who had brought him there were envious of his wisdom and the good works he had been doing. They had tried to humiliate him in front of the crowd but were no match for the wisdom God had given Stephen. So these men hired people to lie about Stephen, falsely accusing him of cursing God and Moses.
When the high council looked at Stephen they saw his face as if he had the face of an angel, full of light and love. Stephen addressed the crowd, saying that just as their forefathers had ignored the Holy Spirit so had they. He told them that they had been given the law of God, handed to them on a silver platter but they squandered the opportunity. They became so full of anger, after Stephen had spoken, that they dragged him out of town and stoned him to death. While Stephen was being stoned he overflowed with God’s love and prayed that they would not be held accountable for their actions.
Taking things for granted is a natural human flaw. We all have been guilty of it at various times. The people of Stephens’s day had taken for granted God’s law and His mercy. They were the chosen people but they did not reciprocate, they ignored God. God had chosen them but they did not continue to choose God.
So many times we too take for granted the gift of the Holy Spirit. We squander the opportunity for fellowship. We ignore God’s Word and His leading. We might not mean to do this but if we are not paddling towards God we are drifting away from God. We must look at God’s gift of the Holy Spirit as the most precious thing on this earth, because it really is. Jesus said He would send a comforter to us, so we would not be alone until His return.
The Holy Spirit is our comforter. He is there when no one else is. When we feel as if we are all alone, He is there. The Holy Spirit is our teacher and guide. He leads us through a dark and obstacle filled world. The Holy Spirit is our true friend. He is always there to speak with and we should never ignore or shun Him. Jesus did not leave us comfortless, He sent The Holy Spirit to us so that He could commune with us.
Let’s not squander this gift, this opportunity, this freedom. Let’s start fresh today by inviting the Holy Spirit into our lives to be our guide, counselor and true friend!