Day 250

Video - Defending is offensive

Reflection- Defending is offensive

Daily Reading - Acts 6-8 

Acts 7: 54-60

“The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!” Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.”

The story of Stephen getting arrested and falsely accused of lying and brought before he high council is a really captivating story - no pun intended. It was actually a carefully crafted conspiracy because he was so full of ‘God’s grace and power and was performing amazing miracles and signs’. They plotted and planted witnesses that were willing to lie and make accusations in order to arrest him. They were of course trying to defend their position and status and justifying it as protecting God. As he is brought before the council and asked to defend himself. He does something really clever and reminiscent of what Jesus often did. 

He quoted scripture, but not just a little bit. He gave sweeping testimony and history of the entire Jewish people from Abraham to Moses and the prophets. He knew that nor he nor God needed defending, only reminding! Their egos were blocking any truth from getting in. Their minds were already made up. They had ears but could not hear, eyes but could not see. Our egos are very loud bossy self righteous and often arrogant voices that are clamoring and demanding to be heard and defended. We think we are defending but we have to go on the offense in order to defend. The law of paradox at work again. 

As I was verbally processing this in the morning videos I do, another acronym for ego came to mind. Energy Growing Outside - this is the puffed up pride and energy that it takes to maintain and feed the ego and the more you feed it the more it wants. It is like a bottomless pit and it is always looking outside for validation, affirmation and satisfaction. We are energetic beings, but God designed us to go within when we are operating in health. Our hearts represent love and vitality and health. The heart is the symbol of love and the measure of our health. 

Stephen was so filled with love and purpose he prayed for his enemies as he was being stoned. He saw God’s glory and Jesus at his right hand. Notice too this is where we are introduced to Saul. Stephen prayed for him and asked God not to charge him with this sin. I think God was listening and chose Saul because of Stephen pure heart and gave him a second chance, a chance to be redeemed as Paul. 

Have you ever noticed that the more people get identified with a particular ideology whether it is religion, politics, a company, brand, pop culture, ethnicity, country…. And we start to defend our positions we become guilty of the very thing we are accusing ‘them’ of doing? We have to be really careful of where and how much we give our loyalty to it can really activate our egos and deactivate our humanity. Group think can be very dangerous and offensive and we can always spot it in others and are quick to condemn, but how often are we blind to it in ourselves. We should be careful and put it on our agenda’s to take an internal inventory of our hearts and where we put our loyalty and faith. I am including myself in this, I have been really working on my compassion for myself and others. 

It is so natural and automatic to want to defend but the more we can take those thoughts and impulses captive the more we will actually be freed. Our egos are brutal dictators and tyrants sometimes or a lot of the time. I don’t catch myself a lot but I am working on it and I am even working on humbling going back and repairing and admitting my offensiveness. Contrary to what my ego tells me people actually like the less defensive and humble me much better!  How can you practice this in your life, are you all in with a particular group and a way of thinking, has it caused problems in your life. Have you ever thought about how defending can actually be offensive?

Daily Journal Prompt: 

How can you practice this in your life, are you all in with a particular group and a way of thinking, has it caused problems in your life. Have you ever thought about how defending can actually be offensive?

Tomorrows Reading: 

Acts Chapter 9

Coaching Opportunity: 

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