WEDNESDAY - JULY 1

Read. Acts 7:54 - 8:1a
54 Once the council members heard these words, they were enraged and began to grind their teeth at Stephen. 55 But Stephen, enabled by the Holy Spirit, stared into heaven and saw God’s majesty and Jesus standing at God’s right side. 56 He exclaimed, “Look! I can see heaven on display and the Human One[a] standing at God’s right side!” 57 At this, they shrieked and covered their ears. Together, they charged at him, 58 threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses placed their coats in the care of a young man named Saul. 59 As they battered him with stones, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, accept my life!” 60 Falling to his knees, he shouted, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” Then he died.8 1 Saul was in full agreement with Stephen’s murder.

Reflect. In this passage we see the council’s response to Stephen’s speech and Stephen’s death. This council had no authority to impose the death penalty; the death was an extrajudicial lynching. 

• As Stephen’s accusers were full of rage, but Stephen couldn’t see them because God blessed him with a vision of the presence of God. Stephen witnesses the presence of God then he shares this witness with others by offering forgiveness for their actions. 
• In the last verse of this passage we learn that Saul (who will later be Paul and spread the love of Jesus around the world) was a witness and supporter to Stephen’s death. The way that Stephen was a witness, in his death, makes an impact on Saul. It will take a direct encounter with Jesus for Saul to become a Jesus follower, but Stephen plants a seed of faith in the heart of Saul. An ancient church theologian, Augustine, wrote, “The Church owes Paul to the prayer of Stephen.”
• Reflect on the witness that Stephen lives. Stephen would not live to see how his witness would impact the lives of others. Sometimes the followers of Jesus are asked to share faith in ways that they will never see the result. How can you be a witness like Stephen? How can you make one step, today, to share faith. 

Pray. Lord, help me to be faithful like Stephen. Help me to share the faith and be a witness as Stephen was a witness, even when I might never see the result. Amen.

COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST


Doug. Bobby. Collier. Glenn. Adam.  Mary.  Clyde.  Linda. Betty Carolyn. Jeff. Albert. Richard. Lois. Ross. Tiny. Donald. Bill. Barbara. Andreas. Helen. Bonnie Brenner. Baker Family. Robert McKenzie Family. Terry Kibler. Carolyn Harlow. Jeremy. Jeff Green. Lyric. Earl Graves. Gail & Mickey Huff.