March 03, 2023 | Be On Mission
Stephen is Stoned by the Sanhedrin
Scripture: Acts 7:54-60 (NIV)
54 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.
Devotional
Stephen’s little sermon on what we know as the Old Testament didn’t set well with the seventy scholars of Scripture that made up the Sanhedrin. So they killed him. Stephen became the first martyr of the Christian faith. He would not be the last.
Take some time to go to www.persecution.com which will take you to the homepage of The Voice of the Martyrs. Navigate to the “Global Prayer Guide” page and use the interactive map to learn about persecution of Christians in the world today. Choose a country and read about what is going on, scrolling down to the prayer requests. Pick a few and spend time in prayer.
Prayer
Father, we give thanks for Your Word. When life is going well, we tend to think that it is just a collection of good thoughts. We live in a sin-cursed world and life is constantly ravaged by the horrors that sin brings. We have a hope that is real. I pray today that You will make it real to all of us and that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus: That is what matters from now and to all eternity. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Poem
Stony Hearts
Stony hearts clench stones in hand
Blood of martyrs soak the land
Still the Gospel fire is fanned
Stony hearts clench stones in hand
Striking words grip whips in hand
Blood of martyrs drench the land
Faith house built not on the sand
Striking words grip whips in hand
Choking lies knot noose in hand
String saint up above the land
Hatred lynching, Hate’s demand
Choking lies knot noose in hand
Folded hands, saints bowed in prayer
Blood of martyrs, perfumed air
Incense rising, throne room chair
Folded hand, saints bowed in prayer
Mighty Warrior, Prince of Peace
When will all the suff’ring cease?
Vict’ry waiting to release
Mighty Warrior, Prince of Peace
