Christ Church Daily Devotion March 18 2024

Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, performed miracles but faced opposition from members of the synagogue. They accused him of speaking against Moses and God. They brought him before the Sanhedrin, where Stephen boldly proclaimed his faith. As a result, he was stoned to death, becoming an example for Christians to stand up for their beliefs. We should have the courage to live out our faith and not be afraid to be identified as Christians. Welcome to Christchurch's Daily Devotion for March 18th, 2024. Today we will be reading from Acts chapter 6 verse 8 through chapter 7 verse 3. Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the synagogue, of the freedmen, as it was called, Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria, as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia, who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God. So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses who testified, This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us. All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and then they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Then the high priest asked Stephen, Are these charges true? To this he replied, Brothers and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Herat. Leave your country and your people. God said, And go to the land, I will show you. Stephen was chosen as one of the seven to ensure that the Greek-speaking widows received their fair share in the distribution of food in the church. Yet Stephen was not stoned for anything having to do with this role. Stephen was stoned because he performed wonders and signs among the people and would not compromise his faith. When Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin, he knew that his life was in peril, and he had a choice. He could compromise his beliefs and promise to stop witnessing, or he could step up boldly to proclaim his faith to them. Stephen's boldness resulted in his being stoned to death and becoming an example for Christians that encourages us 2,000 years later. Very few of us will ever be faced with the fear of death because of our faith. Yet we are sometimes hesitant to step up and be identified as a Christian. We want to be liked, to fit in, and to not seem strange, so we may shrink back and remain quiet when Christ would have us speak up. Today's passage and Stephen's example should encourage us to live out our faith and stand up for Christ. Your personal worship option today, pray with me. Almighty God, I want to be a disciple of Christ and not just a believer. Give me the courage to stand up, to speak up, and to let others see in my life that I am a follower of your Son, Jesus Christ. It is in His name I pray. Amen.