You
Stubborn
People!
Scripture
Acts
7
51 “You
stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must
you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did,
and so do you!
52 Name one
prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones
who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you
betrayed and murdered.
54 The
Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they
shook their fists at him in rage.
55 But
Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw
the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at
God’s right hand.
56 And he
told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man
standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”
58 and
dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took
off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Observation
Stephen
was talking about some Jewish leaders, but he could have been talking
about me and you! It all depends on the condition of our hearts!
This
morning in my daily Bible reading I read about Stephen who was a man
full of the Holy Spirit and about Job who God described as, “the
finest man in all the earth”, yet both of these men suffered
terribly.
You
and I are also going to go through times of suffering. Not one of us
is exempt.
What
God has promised to us, as followers of Jesus Christ, is that He will
be with us – always, no matter what we are going through!
Isaiah
43:1-3
1.
… Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by
name; you are mine.
2 When
you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through
rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the
fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not
consume you.
3 For
I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Matthew
28:20
20
… And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the
age.”
John
16:33
33 I
have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on
earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because
I have overcome the world.”
Isaiah
41:10
10 Don’t
be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Philippians
1:29
29 For
you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but
also the privilege of suffering for him.
Application
No
matter what I go through, I know that Jesus is going to always be
with me.
How
about you? How are you handling what you are going through?
Prayer
Heavenly
Father, I know that You do not promise a trouble-free life. In fact,
You have told me that I am going to have trouble. I shouldn't be
surprised when I am faced with a trial. Help me to remember that no
matter how bad it gets, no matter how terrible the situation, You
will be right there with me.
I
pray for my friends who are going through sickness right now or who
are enduring the illness of a loved one. Give them strength. I pray
that they will be able to remain close to You during this storm in
their life. Show them that You are right there with them.
Job
1:21-22
“I
came naked from my mother’s womb,
and I will be naked when I leave.
The Lord gave me what I had,
and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord!”
and I will be naked when I leave.
The Lord gave me what I had,
and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord!”
Daily
Bible Reading: Job 1,2; Acts 6,7
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