Believers often say 'live to please God, not man.' Problem: sinners can't please God. They should rather say 'be who you are in Christ,' keeping The Savior in the foreground. Christ pleased God FOR us. If you're in Christ, God IS pleased with you. That can't increase or decrease.

Barabbas. "Son of the father" A criminal. Released. Jesus. "Son of God" An innocent man. Condemned. Brothers and sisters, each of us is Barabbas. We're criminals who were released. We were released by the innocent [God-man] who was condemned. We're trophies of grace.

Stephen "saw the glory of God, and Jesus *standing* at the right hand of God." (Acts 7:55) Not *seated?* (Mark 16:19; Luke 22:69, Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3, 8:1, 10:12, 12:2) That was likely a posture to receive him. After all, Jesus receives his own. (v.59)

"They even made a calf in those days, offered sacrifice to the idol, and were celebrating what their hands had made." - Acts 7:41 Brothers, sisters: may we instead celebrate what our Father's hands have done in and through us, and continue to do in and through us. Worship Him!

Brothers and sisters, “As sure as the Bible is true, God will not leave you.” - Charles Spurgeon

"I have certainly seen the oppression of My people in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free." - Stephen, Acts 7:34 Or, "Remember the redemption which took place millennia prior!" Brothers and sisters, remember the same for us two millennia ago.

Moses: "So [he] was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in his speech and actions." (Acts 7:22) Greater Moses: The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people..." (Luke 24:19)

"The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt, but God was with him and rescued him out of all his troubles." - Acts 7:9-10 (cf. 1 Samuel 26:24; Psalm 34:17, 50:15, 54:7, 91:15, 107:6; Proverbs 11:8; Jonah 4:6) God rescues because that's what a redeemer does.

"The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran, and said to him: Leave your country and relatives, and come to the land that I will show you." - Acts 7:2 God showed Canaan, a type of the new creation. (Hebrews 11:8-10)

Pontius Pilate [smugly] asked, "What is truth?" Ironically, truth was staring him right in the face. Brothers and sisters, rejoice that we know the truth. We know Jesus.

Struggling with sin doesn't invalidate one's profession of faith in Christ. Brothers and sisters, take heart.

"I did not hide Your righteousness in my heart; I spoke about Your faithfulness and salvation; I did not conceal Your constant love and truth from the great assembly." "Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." - Psalm 40:10, John 18:37d Brothers, sisters: we listen.

I'm in Christ. I'm a son of God. I belong to God. I'm [eternally] secure. From those realities, I'm exhorted to obey God's law. And because it's good for me and my neighbor. (Ultimately, it glorifies my Father.) I'm on board. For any other reason(s)? It's a hard-pass.

God inspired the written expression of frustration... ...with Him... ...experienced by His people. Brothers, sisters: including us! Therefore, may we not be afraid or ashamed to express frustration with Him to Him. Leave the "that's crossing a line" nonsense to the ignorant.

Brothers and sisters, our Father gave us the lament Psalms to express and shape our emotions. "The emotions are therefore not a problem to be solved but are part of the raw material of now-fallen humanity that can be shaped to good and noble ends." - Undisclosed

Brothers, sisters: we don't know what to pray for as we should. Thankfully The Spirit intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. But God doesn't stop there. He gave us the lament psalms. They give us words to express the deepest groanings of our hearts. May we use them!