March 18-Meditating on God’s Word
Here is the passage for the week:
Acts 6:8-15, Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen.10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. 11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” 15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Praying the Word: “Lord Jesus, You bring out the best and the worst in people! Stephen had been chosen as one of the seven to serve tables, yet his gifting called him to do more. He became apostolic as he performed miracles by Your grace and power. As he lived his best life, others sunk to their lowest and opposed his message and stirred up trouble against him. They connived and lied. Just as had been done with You Lord, they produced false witnesses to bring charges that had no basis. Yet, Stephen didn’t waver. His countenance revealed an angelic presence, the glory of the Lord shone through. May it be so when we face such hostile situations that we remain centered in Your peace and Your glory keeps shining through. Amen.”
March 19-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 6:8, Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.
Observe what it is saying.
Stephen was the first man named to lead the feeding program for widows. He was described as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Here the description is similar in that he is full of God’s grace and power. With such a holy empowering, he was led beyond the table ministry to doing the miraculous work of an apostle. He was open to God’s leading to grow and use what God gave him. The table ministry was a safe place to serve, but he was willing to move beyond his comfortable role. Just because we start in one ministry doesn’t mean that’s where we’ll stay.
Relate it to your life.
To live our best possible life, we need to step out of comfort and go where the Spirit leads.
Do something.
“Lord Jesus, help me to break out of my comfort zone to fully live my God-potential. Amen.”
March 20-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 6:9-10, Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen.10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
Observe what it is saying.
Until the new heaven and earth are completed, there will be opposition to the glorious work of our Lord. Remarkably, there is an increasing number of cynics and scoffers of biblical truth today. There are even pastors and theologians who teach against the historical, orthodox message of Christ’s death, resurrection, and return. They create their own shallow version of the gospel that is not biblically based. However, as it was with Stephen, such weak theology will not prevail but will crumble against the truth of the gospel presented in the power of the Spirit.
Relate it to your life.
We need to be spiritually wise in what we read, hear, and believe to be the gospel truth.
Do something.
“Jesus, awaken me to the deception of false teachers so that I’m not led astray. Amen.”
March 21-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 6:11-12, Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.
Observe what it is saying.
These so-called Freedmen stirred up trouble. How did they persuade these men? Did they pay them off? We see how desperate they were to stop Stephen and other apostles from spreading the life-giving message of Jesus. The Freedmen convinced a few to spread fake news which caused a domino effect among the leaders and people. Such manipulation is evidence how quickly some can easily be deceived by impulsive emotion without discerning the truth.
Relate it to your life.
I refuse to be a pawn in the hands of those who try to sway me by emotional propaganda.
Do something.
“Jesus, don’t let me become emotionally manipulated and easily misled by fake news. Amen.”
March 22-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 6:13-14, They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
Observe what it is saying.
The Freedmen found persons to deliberately lie on their behalf so that Stephen would be condemned. He was walking in Jesus’ footsteps as He faced the same kind of lies that led to Jesus’ death. When we cannot control what is unfolding in our lives, it’s a most difficult place to be. Even though what was being said was blatantly untrue, Stephen could do nothing to stop it. What a helpless feeling! What could he do? He had to let go and trust God. Such times are when we find out if we are fully surrendered in love and trust to our Savior and Lord.
Relate it to your life.
Even when it’s blatantly untrue, I cannot control everything, so I must surrender it to God.
Do something.
“Jesus, give me the courage to let go and trust You with what is beyond my control. Amen.”
March 23-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 6:15, All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Observe what it is saying.
In the midst of the deeply disturbing circumstances in which Stephen found himself of being falsely charged of which he was totally innocent, he had a remarkable peace that manifested itself in his glowing countenance. This reminds us of Moses face after being in the presence of the Lord and Jesus’ face on the mountain of transfiguration. This puts Stephen in the best company as it reveals his spiritual vibrance where he had made total surrender of his life into the hands of Jesus. Even in the worst possible circumstances, the Lord was shining through Stephen in that moment as he was totally immersed in Jesus’ peaceful presence.
Relate it to your life.
God’s peace is greater than our most challenging circumstances.
Do something.
“Jesus, give me the grace and power to totally surrender my life into your hands. Amen.”
Here is the passage for the week:
Acts 6:8-15, Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen.10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. 11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” 15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Praying the Word: “Lord Jesus, You bring out the best and the worst in people! Stephen had been chosen as one of the seven to serve tables, yet his gifting called him to do more. He became apostolic as he performed miracles by Your grace and power. As he lived his best life, others sunk to their lowest and opposed his message and stirred up trouble against him. They connived and lied. Just as had been done with You Lord, they produced false witnesses to bring charges that had no basis. Yet, Stephen didn’t waver. His countenance revealed an angelic presence, the glory of the Lord shone through. May it be so when we face such hostile situations that we remain centered in Your peace and Your glory keeps shining through. Amen.”
March 19-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 6:8, Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.
Observe what it is saying.
Stephen was the first man named to lead the feeding program for widows. He was described as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Here the description is similar in that he is full of God’s grace and power. With such a holy empowering, he was led beyond the table ministry to doing the miraculous work of an apostle. He was open to God’s leading to grow and use what God gave him. The table ministry was a safe place to serve, but he was willing to move beyond his comfortable role. Just because we start in one ministry doesn’t mean that’s where we’ll stay.
Relate it to your life.
To live our best possible life, we need to step out of comfort and go where the Spirit leads.
Do something.
“Lord Jesus, help me to break out of my comfort zone to fully live my God-potential. Amen.”
March 20-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 6:9-10, Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen.10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
Observe what it is saying.
Until the new heaven and earth are completed, there will be opposition to the glorious work of our Lord. Remarkably, there is an increasing number of cynics and scoffers of biblical truth today. There are even pastors and theologians who teach against the historical, orthodox message of Christ’s death, resurrection, and return. They create their own shallow version of the gospel that is not biblically based. However, as it was with Stephen, such weak theology will not prevail but will crumble against the truth of the gospel presented in the power of the Spirit.
Relate it to your life.
We need to be spiritually wise in what we read, hear, and believe to be the gospel truth.
Do something.
“Jesus, awaken me to the deception of false teachers so that I’m not led astray. Amen.”
March 21-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 6:11-12, Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.
Observe what it is saying.
These so-called Freedmen stirred up trouble. How did they persuade these men? Did they pay them off? We see how desperate they were to stop Stephen and other apostles from spreading the life-giving message of Jesus. The Freedmen convinced a few to spread fake news which caused a domino effect among the leaders and people. Such manipulation is evidence how quickly some can easily be deceived by impulsive emotion without discerning the truth.
Relate it to your life.
I refuse to be a pawn in the hands of those who try to sway me by emotional propaganda.
Do something.
“Jesus, don’t let me become emotionally manipulated and easily misled by fake news. Amen.”
March 22-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 6:13-14, They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
Observe what it is saying.
The Freedmen found persons to deliberately lie on their behalf so that Stephen would be condemned. He was walking in Jesus’ footsteps as He faced the same kind of lies that led to Jesus’ death. When we cannot control what is unfolding in our lives, it’s a most difficult place to be. Even though what was being said was blatantly untrue, Stephen could do nothing to stop it. What a helpless feeling! What could he do? He had to let go and trust God. Such times are when we find out if we are fully surrendered in love and trust to our Savior and Lord.
Relate it to your life.
Even when it’s blatantly untrue, I cannot control everything, so I must surrender it to God.
Do something.
“Jesus, give me the courage to let go and trust You with what is beyond my control. Amen.”
March 23-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 6:15, All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Observe what it is saying.
In the midst of the deeply disturbing circumstances in which Stephen found himself of being falsely charged of which he was totally innocent, he had a remarkable peace that manifested itself in his glowing countenance. This reminds us of Moses face after being in the presence of the Lord and Jesus’ face on the mountain of transfiguration. This puts Stephen in the best company as it reveals his spiritual vibrance where he had made total surrender of his life into the hands of Jesus. Even in the worst possible circumstances, the Lord was shining through Stephen in that moment as he was totally immersed in Jesus’ peaceful presence.
Relate it to your life.
God’s peace is greater than our most challenging circumstances.
Do something.
“Jesus, give me the grace and power to totally surrender my life into your hands. Amen.”
Posted in Daily Devotionals