Cut To The Heart

"When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them."  Acts 5:33.  The end that is desired of the gospel being preached is for the heart to be pricked or cut.  The gospel is ineffective if the heart is not affected.  Sometimes the gospel will be heard by a heart that is hard and cold.  This heart will not respond to the gospel.  In the passage before us, the heart was cut, but a negative response was made by those who heard.  They wanted to slay the messenger.  God wanted them to be mindful of their sin by a pricked heart so that they would repent.  The desire of the pricked heart is change.  These people did not want to change, and neither did they want to be reminded of their sin.  The messenger can be slain, but the message will continue.  Some other messenger will always take the place of the one who is slain.  God's word will continue to travel through the land.  The word of God can not be stopped.  When your heart is cut, what is your response?  Do you want to slay the messenger or change your life?