[Anglican Devotional 26 December 2022] Topic: Unmoved

Posted by: Henry || Categories: Devotional

TOPIC: Unmoved

READ: Acts 7:54-60(NKJV)

When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with [their] teeth.
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,
and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord;
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.
And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on [God] and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
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.
The MESSAGE:

Stephen was one of the leaders chosen to help care for widows. However, shortly after that, he understood that his calling was far more than that of settling food disputes; it extended to settling spiritual disputes as well into the lives of people. In our text, Stephen went preaching the message of Jesus Christ – boldly telling who Jesus is and how He fulfils the whole of the Old Testament. When the people decided to stone him, Stephen was bold and unshaken, and as he was dying, he asked God to forgive the very people who were killing him. Stephen saw the heavens opened with Christ standing at God’s right hand, ready to receive him into His presence. We live in a world that is hostile to children of God. Jesus said it will be so but encourages us to cheer up and endure! We are not to fear persecution or death, if only we are in the Lord. This boldness comes only by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in one’s life. It is He who empowers God’s children to be unmovable when persecuted or facing death. Come to the Lord Jesus Christ who alone gives us His Spirit.

PRAYER: Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit that I will be bold to testify of your goodness and salvation before all men. Amen.

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