Tuned In – Palm Valley Youth

By Penny Swanson

S – Acts 7:54 Now when they heard this they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him.

O – What is a “quick?” Have you ever cut your fingernail so short it hurts because it cuts into the soft tissue under the nail or the nail bed? Or cut a dog’s toenail too short and it bleeds? The soft tissue in the nail is the “quick.” And it hurts when it’s cut! The people listening to Stephen’s sermon were angry at what he had to say. Stephen’s words went straight to their hearts – their “soft tissue” or “quick.” The anger was from defensiveness and guilt because what Stephen spoke was the truth.

A – How often do we get angry and defend our actions or words when someone speaks the truth to us? Or when we read the Bible and something in it convicts us of sin in our life? We should be repentant and sorry but instead we deal with the pain by getting defensive and angry.

P – Lord, I pray that when I read your Word and am convicted of sin that I will immediately seek forgiveness and correct my behavior. When I am “cut to the quick” may I respond the right way!