March 25-Meditating on God’s Word
Here is the passage for the week:
Acts 7:54-60, When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Praying the Word: “Lord Jesus, where we keep our focus matters greatly. As Stephen did, remind me to keep looking up to see your glory rather than looking around at the threats and problems all around me. It’s so easy to become discouraged by what I encounter in life, especially, when it’s unfair and unjust. Even when the intensity of such opposition heats up, keep me centered on You and be found to be at total peace within myself. Even more, may I totally surrender myself into Your hands for safekeeping. Give me the courage and spiritual depth to pray for forgiveness for those who have harmed me in one way or another. May I surrender my all today, each day, so when the day of opposition comes, I will be prepared to keep my eyes on You and my heart at peace so that I can give You the glory. Amen.”
March 26-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 7:54, When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.
Observe what it is saying.
After being brought before the Sanhedrin by a group called the Freedmen, Stephen took the opportunity to defend himself by sharing the story of his Jewish faith. It was going well until the application part. Stephen didn’t mince words when he said, “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him.” (Acts 7 :51-52). These words sent the Sanhedrin into orbit. They couldn’t handle the unvarnished truth. Instead of humbling themselves and repenting, they lashed out and gnashed their teeth. What is our response when truth is preached with Holy Spirit conviction?
Relate it to your life.
Do I shoot the messenger because I don’t like the truth?
Do something.
“Lord Jesus, humble me, so that I can receive the conviction of Your word and Spirit. Amen.”
March 27-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 7:55-56, But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Observe what it is saying.
Against the earthly backdrop of lashing out and gnashing of teeth, God gave Stephen a glorious vision of heaven with Jesus standing at the right hand of God. In the midst of our most difficult trials, God gives us glimpses of His great glory. Again, we are told that Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. He was full of Jesus. As a result, he was able to distance himself from what was going on around him and see the greater spiritual realities of the unseen realm. In the vision, it’s interesting that Jesus was standing at the right hand of God, the favored, powerful position of God. Maybe, it was a sign of comfort and hope as Jesus stood in preparation to welcome Stephen into His presence.
Relate it to your life.
When we’re full of the Holy Spirit, we see and understand spiritual realities otherwise unknown.
Do something.
“Jesus, I surrender myself to you so I can be full of You. Amen.”
March 28-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 7:57-58, At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Observe what it is saying.
Stephen enlivened the dark forces when he boldly declared he saw Jesus, the Son of Man, standing at the right hand of God. The Son of Man is a prophetic term for the Messiah. Because Stephen made it clear that Jesus fulfilled this, the seen and unseen kingdoms became united in their outrage of the truth being spoken. It’s here we’re first introduced to Saul who would become impassioned to further this evil agenda and go after those who elevated Jesus’ name.
Relate it to your life.
I shouldn’t be surprised at opposition when the name of Jesus is lifted up.
Do something.
“Jesus, may I boldly declare Your name regardless of what it might stir up. Amen.”
March 29-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 7:59, While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Observe what it is saying.
We can’t even imagine the horror of this event that so quickly unfolded. Stephen was totally filled with the Spirit and completely surrendered. In a sense, he had nothing to lose but everything to gain. Just as Jesus did on the cross when He said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” so did Stephen ask Jesus to receive his spirit. Ultimately, having the confidence that heaven receives our spirits when we die is why we live for Christ today. Our faith teaches the best is yet to come. We must not hold on to this world so tightly that we miss the glory of the future that is finer than our finest dreams.
Relate it to your life.
I can’t hold on to earth if I want to experience the joy of heaven.
Do something.
“Jesus, I surrender my all so that I will be full of You to enjoy Your eternal bliss. Amen.”
March 30-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 7:60, Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Observe what it is saying.
Just as Jesus spoke from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” so Stephen prayed that the sin of those stoning him wouldn’t be held against them. It’s astounding to consider that while being crucified and stoned, they asked God to forgive those who were killing them. It’s difficult enough to forgive after the fact, but to forgive during the act of murder seems nearly impossible. We must not dismiss or take lightly this most radical act of disciple-making. In the last prayers of their lives, they made sure their own hearts were free of any bitterness towards those who unjustly took their lives. When we do this, then we know we’ve arrived to the pinnacle of spiritual development. We want to make sure all accounts are settled, and it is well with our soul as we prepare to make the transfer from earth to heaven.
Relate it to your life.
When I choose to forgive others, then I know Jesus is living and speaking through me.
Do something.
“Jesus, give me the grace and strength to forgive others as You first forgave me. Amen.”
Here is the passage for the week:
Acts 7:54-60, When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Praying the Word: “Lord Jesus, where we keep our focus matters greatly. As Stephen did, remind me to keep looking up to see your glory rather than looking around at the threats and problems all around me. It’s so easy to become discouraged by what I encounter in life, especially, when it’s unfair and unjust. Even when the intensity of such opposition heats up, keep me centered on You and be found to be at total peace within myself. Even more, may I totally surrender myself into Your hands for safekeeping. Give me the courage and spiritual depth to pray for forgiveness for those who have harmed me in one way or another. May I surrender my all today, each day, so when the day of opposition comes, I will be prepared to keep my eyes on You and my heart at peace so that I can give You the glory. Amen.”
March 26-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 7:54, When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.
Observe what it is saying.
After being brought before the Sanhedrin by a group called the Freedmen, Stephen took the opportunity to defend himself by sharing the story of his Jewish faith. It was going well until the application part. Stephen didn’t mince words when he said, “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him.” (Acts 7 :51-52). These words sent the Sanhedrin into orbit. They couldn’t handle the unvarnished truth. Instead of humbling themselves and repenting, they lashed out and gnashed their teeth. What is our response when truth is preached with Holy Spirit conviction?
Relate it to your life.
Do I shoot the messenger because I don’t like the truth?
Do something.
“Lord Jesus, humble me, so that I can receive the conviction of Your word and Spirit. Amen.”
March 27-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 7:55-56, But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Observe what it is saying.
Against the earthly backdrop of lashing out and gnashing of teeth, God gave Stephen a glorious vision of heaven with Jesus standing at the right hand of God. In the midst of our most difficult trials, God gives us glimpses of His great glory. Again, we are told that Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. He was full of Jesus. As a result, he was able to distance himself from what was going on around him and see the greater spiritual realities of the unseen realm. In the vision, it’s interesting that Jesus was standing at the right hand of God, the favored, powerful position of God. Maybe, it was a sign of comfort and hope as Jesus stood in preparation to welcome Stephen into His presence.
Relate it to your life.
When we’re full of the Holy Spirit, we see and understand spiritual realities otherwise unknown.
Do something.
“Jesus, I surrender myself to you so I can be full of You. Amen.”
March 28-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 7:57-58, At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Observe what it is saying.
Stephen enlivened the dark forces when he boldly declared he saw Jesus, the Son of Man, standing at the right hand of God. The Son of Man is a prophetic term for the Messiah. Because Stephen made it clear that Jesus fulfilled this, the seen and unseen kingdoms became united in their outrage of the truth being spoken. It’s here we’re first introduced to Saul who would become impassioned to further this evil agenda and go after those who elevated Jesus’ name.
Relate it to your life.
I shouldn’t be surprised at opposition when the name of Jesus is lifted up.
Do something.
“Jesus, may I boldly declare Your name regardless of what it might stir up. Amen.”
March 29-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 7:59, While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Observe what it is saying.
We can’t even imagine the horror of this event that so quickly unfolded. Stephen was totally filled with the Spirit and completely surrendered. In a sense, he had nothing to lose but everything to gain. Just as Jesus did on the cross when He said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” so did Stephen ask Jesus to receive his spirit. Ultimately, having the confidence that heaven receives our spirits when we die is why we live for Christ today. Our faith teaches the best is yet to come. We must not hold on to this world so tightly that we miss the glory of the future that is finer than our finest dreams.
Relate it to your life.
I can’t hold on to earth if I want to experience the joy of heaven.
Do something.
“Jesus, I surrender my all so that I will be full of You to enjoy Your eternal bliss. Amen.”
March 30-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 7:60, Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Observe what it is saying.
Just as Jesus spoke from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” so Stephen prayed that the sin of those stoning him wouldn’t be held against them. It’s astounding to consider that while being crucified and stoned, they asked God to forgive those who were killing them. It’s difficult enough to forgive after the fact, but to forgive during the act of murder seems nearly impossible. We must not dismiss or take lightly this most radical act of disciple-making. In the last prayers of their lives, they made sure their own hearts were free of any bitterness towards those who unjustly took their lives. When we do this, then we know we’ve arrived to the pinnacle of spiritual development. We want to make sure all accounts are settled, and it is well with our soul as we prepare to make the transfer from earth to heaven.
Relate it to your life.
When I choose to forgive others, then I know Jesus is living and speaking through me.
Do something.
“Jesus, give me the grace and strength to forgive others as You first forgave me. Amen.”
Posted in Daily Devotionals