Post by Woody Williams on Apr 25, 2008 15:39:28 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Acts 7:51-52, 54-60
----------
‘You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are
for ever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do.
Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed
those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have
become his betrayers and murderers.’
When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their
teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into
heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand
of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man
standing at the right hand of God!’ But they covered their ears, and
with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged
him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid
their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were
stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he
knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin
against them.’ When he had said this, he died.
Devotional
----------
Jesus promised the disciples and us that where he was going, we would
be with him in our faithful following. As Stephen is dying from being
stoned, he has a vision of Jesus. Jesus is at the right hand of God.
Stephen's path of devout living and fervent witness met violence, but
Stephen's path ends in the joyful sharing of life with God forever.
Keep your eyes on the goal.
Prayer
--------------
Be near me in living and in dying, Lord. Amen
----------
‘You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are
for ever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do.
Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed
those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have
become his betrayers and murderers.’
When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their
teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into
heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand
of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man
standing at the right hand of God!’ But they covered their ears, and
with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged
him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid
their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were
stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he
knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin
against them.’ When he had said this, he died.
Devotional
----------
Jesus promised the disciples and us that where he was going, we would
be with him in our faithful following. As Stephen is dying from being
stoned, he has a vision of Jesus. Jesus is at the right hand of God.
Stephen's path of devout living and fervent witness met violence, but
Stephen's path ends in the joyful sharing of life with God forever.
Keep your eyes on the goal.
Prayer
--------------
Be near me in living and in dying, Lord. Amen