Acts 7:44-53
44 “Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. 45 Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, 46 who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him. 48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by 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 what is the place of my rest? 50 Did not my hand make all these things?’
51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”
Reflection
Throughout Israel’s history of wandering, slavery in Egypt, the exodus, settling in the Promised Land, and the construction of the temple under Solomon, God was graciously orchestrating events to lead to the coming of the promised offspring, the Righteous One, Jesus. Even the glorious temple was only a temporary shadow of the One to come. The Jews had mistakenly believed that Israel’s temple was the ultimate dwelling place of God’s presence. They had failed to realize that even in the Old Testament, God was not limited by a structure made with human hands (Acts 7:49–50). God is near to all who call on him (Ps. 145:18), and he has drawn near to us most fully in Jesus Christ.
Because of their failure to understand the meaning of their own story and history (Acts 6:8–15), the Jews had failed to see that the Mosaic law and the temple point to Jesus. Rather than embracing the One to whom their history pointed, Israel rejected and mistreated Jesus just like they had done to former prophets like Joseph and Moses. Jesus stood as the last in a long line of God’s prophets, and he too was persecuted by his own people, even to the point of death.
Does the gospel in fact destroy the teachings, structures, and traditions of Judaism (6:14)? Is Christianity something new that breaks away from the Old Testament? These are the sorts of charges that Luke continually refutes in Acts. Christ’s life, ministry, death, and resurrection are the true fulfillment of the Old Testament promises of God. Jesus did not overrule and demolish the revelation of God that had been entrusted to the Jews; he embodied and fulfilled it.
1 John 3:11-24
11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Reflection
John states that genuine love for other believers is evidence of genuine belief (1 John 3:14), just as hate is a sure sign that one is “of the evil one” (v. 12). A believer’s love flows out of and resembles the love he has received from God through Jesus Christ (vv. 16–18). This will make our love tangible in the actions we take (vv. 17–18). The presence of this love gives us assurance in the face of uncertainty and feelings of condemnation, reminding us that God knows what is true about us (vv. 19–21).
In verses 23–24 John speaks of the connection between right belief (v. 23), genuine love (v. 23), and ongoing obedience (v. 24), all of which enable us to know that we “abide in him.” John also speaks of the presence of the Spirit as another proof that God “abides in us” and that we abide in him (v. 24). The new belief, new behaviors, and new affections generated by the Spirit are evidence of his presence in us and grant assurance of our relationship with God (see also Rom. 8:5–7, 13–16).
Psalm 65:4
4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!
Jesus is the true temple in whom God’s presence dwells, and therefore we can come near to God through him. Pray that you would be constantly mindful of living in the presence of God, worshiping and praying throughout each day.