With the rise of ISIS, violent religious aggression has made it into modern day experience. But varying ways of stamping out faith has been commonplace for millenniums…
READ ACTS 7 Make notes, if you’d like, of what stands out for you. Feel free to use the “Leave a Comment” box below to also write some of your thoughts.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
When it comes to the topic religion, there’s three ways to respond: acceptance, tolerance, or aggression. We may not throw stones these days [v57-58], but we can still reject – in a civilized manner – what our Maker has laid out in His Handbook, whether in full or in part.
Stephen, a friend of Jesus in today’s chapter, uses the history of a nation [v1-47] to explain HIStory – the Creator God’s Universal Masterplan. [v48-56] What’s weird is that, apart from mentioning a betrayal and murder – and no specific name was used [v52] – Stephen said nothing that wasn’t true and backed up with written history. The unreasonable religious aggression turned lethal when Stephen said only what their own prophet Daniel had previous said! [v56]
Most of us would frown upon religious aggression today. But through tolerance and inaction, I can shut down and destroy, just as affectively, my Maker’s message for my life. So, the question still remains open-ended, even two millenniums after today’s chapter: Will I aggressively (or nonchalantly) reject my Creator’s Good News, or will I be ‘cut to the heart’ and ask: “What can I do?”[a]
Read More? CLICK to follow “07 September – Additional Notes”
But what about your thoughts – can you tell me what today’s “breadcrumb” is? Leave a note in the “Comments” box below to tell me what you think of today’s chapter.
Finding it hard to connect with the Lord of Life? The rest of this webpage uses Jesus’ own prayer to help…[b]
THE LORD’S PRAYER:
1. Praise: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven …”
I praise You, Lord! I praise You in Your sanctuary; You’re praised in Your mighty heavens! [Psalm 150:1]
2. Ask: “…Give us today our daily bread…”
The World: Pray for God’s GRACE on Mozambique[c]
Your Country: Ministries to Single Parents
Yourself: Faithfulness in using your gifting
Your concerns for today
Whenever prayer or supplication is made by any of us, Lord, each knowing their own affliction and pain, and spreading their hands toward Your dwelling place, answer Lord my God, I pray. [2 Chronicles 6:29]
3. Admit: “…Forgive us our sin as we forgive those who sin against us…”
This is my desire, Father God, to honour You, the God of my ancestors, and to do Your will. Help me to live differently even if that means going against the flow of my culture. [Ezra 10:11]
4. Protect: “…Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”
At the end of it all, Lord Jesus, I know I’ll be safe if I acknowledge You in my lifestyle and before others, You’ll also acknowledge me before Your Father in heaven. [Matthew 10:32]
“For Yours Lord is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory now and forever. Amen!”
When questioned, tested, tricked or in His hour of great need, Jesus spoke what was previously written in God’s Word.[d] So, the final section on this page is about memorizing the script through 10 topics. Following these will help you learn 52 portions from the bible in a year! THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE: Prayer
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” [Matthew 7:7]
[a] Acts 2:37
[b] Matthew 6:5-15
[c] http://www.operationworld.org/country/moza/owtext.html
[d] Matthew 4:4,6,7,10; 11:10; 21:13; and 26:24,31