Acts 7:54-60 NKJV

[54] When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. [55] But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, [56] and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” [57] Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; [58] and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. [59] And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” [60] Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

I can rationalize any decision or behavior if I am selfish enough. Self-righteousness and presupposition are poisons to the soul. It allows us to renounce God's truth and believe what we like, trust what we want, and follow the same wrong paths. Self-righteousness does not leave room for the righteousness of Christ.

In the eyes of the assembly, Stephen was guilty of blasphemy. They were so caught up in their own beliefs, opinions, and practices that they could not see what Stephen was seeing. The Holy Spirit is not confined to our long-standing traditions or our religious practices. They Holy Spirit was sent to dwell in the hearts of those who follow Jesus.

Faith is as unique as a fingerprint. It is shaped by our experiences and sharpened by the Holy Spirit. My convictions may be different from yours because we have different perspectives. That doesn't mean either of us are wrong if we are both pursuing a deeper relationship with Jesus. If my pursuit is on point, I will be too focused on following Jesus myself to misjudge anyone else's path that leads to the same Savior.