In the last twenty-four hours, I have been dealing with muscle spasms in my neck. It’s quite literally a pain in the neck. It’s made it difficult to move my head to look around, especially to the right. As much as I hate having a stiff neck physically, I would hate it even more to have one spiritually. But to be honest, I imagine I have had one before, and who knows, if hard-pressed, I might have one now when addressing specific issues or circumstances. All the more, having a stiff neck is not spoken well of in the Scriptures. One occurrence is found in Acts 7:51, when Stephen addresses the religious leaders of the time and says, “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.” The term “stiff-necked ” describes the stubbornness and resistance to God’s will and the gospel. It was used in the Old Testament to describe God’s people when they resisted God or refused to follow His direction and will. Stephen is linking the religious leaders in the first century with the historical pattern of rebellion God’s people were guilty of on numerous occasions.
What is the problem he is addressing? They were guilty of resisting the Holy Spirit by resisting God’s messengers and instructions. The leaders Stephen addresses were rejecting Jesus and His Gospel. Stephen brings to light how their ancestors persecuted and killed the prophets sent by God, and just as the prophets were rejected, so too were Jesus, Stephen, and all the apostles. Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit, and rejecting him was rejecting God. They were also blind to the facts and appropriate responses to God’s plan. The leaders had traditions, rituals, and legalism that became more important than the heart of God’s plan. They believed they were following the Law, but Stephen tells them they fail to understand the larger significant meaning of the Law, which points to the Messiah, Jesus.
Being stiff-neck means we are immovable and not spiritually influenced. Not being willing and able to move and adjust is a terrible spiritual problem that will only lead to more and more immoveability. We become spiritually sedentary. It’s a horrible condition.
If you have a stiff neck, make the proper adjustments and be willing to make spiritual changes. Pray for my neck, and I’ll pray for yours.
For the Lord,
Alex