Who is like unto Thee, O Lord! who is like unto Thee, O Lord! among the gods who is like Thee, You are glorious in holiness, fearful in Praising, doing wonders alleluia, always doing wonders alleluia.// Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness morning by morning new mercies I see, all that is needed Thy hand has provided, great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto Thee.
Heavenly Father, we bow before You we magnify Your Name, we give You praises, adoration to Your Holy Name, Father You are Excellent, You are Wonderful, You are Reliable, Dependable is Your Name, Holy are You Lord, all creation called You God, Worthy is Your Name, be Thy exalted forever in Jesus Name.
Beloved, how are doing? Hope things are looking up? Never mind, your testimonies will be full in Jesus Name. Our God is no mean God; but a Loving Father, going about; doing good you case can never be too high for Him, yes! He is Higher than the highest, Bigger than the biggest, He is Greater than the greatest, there is nothing impossible unto Him. Therefore, relax; don’t give up for God is in perfect control. Praise the Lord.
Beloved, we started well yesterday when we considered one of the virtue of fruit of the Spirit, and today we will further the teaching by considering a man whose life was nothing short of it. He was not among the first twelve disciples, but he was fervent in spirit serving the Lord. He was the first disciple martyred. This great man of God upheld the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ even to the later. He stood with boldness before the leaders of his days and proclaimed Christ. His teaching cut their heart but itching ears cause them to murder him. The leaders were afraid that the people will turn away from Judaism and accept Jesus teachings, so they stone him to death.
But he was full of the Spirit, and this virtue was up and full in his life, he blessed rather than cause his murderers, he forgave them and that singular act of forgiveness turn the gospel around. God did not hold the sins of his murderers against them but rather turned then to carry on the gospel of our Lord Jesus to the ends of the earth as was commanded by Christ. The chief persecutors Saul we later read was converted and became an apostle of Christ rather than a persecutor of the body of Christ.
Beloved, we need to be good imitators of Christ. If a man like Stephen will forgave his murderers and that turned things around, then we have no excuse in doing otherwise. Yes! We may hurt but the grace is also abounding unto us to do every good works. May God help us to live a worthy life pleasing unto Him in Jesus Name.
Are you willing? Then you have to surrender your life to Christ now and ask from Him grace to live out your life as a chosen vessel of honour unto God alone. Praise the Lord! Bearing in mind that as believers in Christ we counted among the people of God and we are citizens of heaven (Eph 2:19, Phil 3:17-21)
True belonging! Never again outside! We are citizens of heaven for eternity. Therefore, we must live in such way to obtain the benefits of the country (heaven) where we belong as we contribute positively to its growth while here on earth, so that its benefits (blessings) will ours thereof. Divine Placement will be better given to a sanctify soul, may God find us worthy in Jesus Name. Praise the Lord!
Come for more discover:
2 Kings 15:16-16:20, Psalm 78:23-31, Proverbs 17:1-2Acts 7:44-8:3
The First Christian Martyr
Lord, do not charge them with this sin!—Acts 7:60
If Christ lives in you then He can love in you. You too can forgive injuries, pray for your enemies, and make every allowance for their wickedness.
The first man ever to die for Christ was Stephen. Our reading makes it clear that he was unjustly murdered. But Christ lived in him. His last words were a magnificent echo of Calvary: “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” Remember Stephen was stoned to death. Imagine how painful that must have been. It was almost as cruel as crucifixion. One by one the stones pounded the life from his body, but though they battered the life out of him they could not batter the love out of him. Like his Lord he kept on loving to the end. Christ was in his mind up until his last moments. “Lord,” he said, “do not charge them with this sin.”
The chapter ends with a lovely sentence: “And saying this, he fell asleep.” But don’t let these words lead you to think there was no hurt, no pain, no physical agony. He would have felt it all; you can be certain of that. But the love of Christ poured into him and through him, and, taken up with Him in his heart and mind, his soul was taken up to be with Him. Some words ring in my mind as I write—words spoken by one who stood holding the coats of those who threw the stones: “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus” (Php 2:5).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I must not perpetuate the treatment people give to me. I must echo Your words and treat people as You do. But I can’t do this except by Your grace. May Your love melt all my resentments and heal all my hurts. Amen.
Further Study
1Sm 24:1-25; Ac 22:19-21; Rm 12:14-21
How did David have the mind of Christ?
How are we to treat those who treat us badly?
Beloved, did you read that “Christ lives in him and he echoed the very word of Calvary, “ Lord, lay not this to their charge.” And heaven heard his prayer, and Saul was converted to Paul of who authored many book in the New Testament. Beloved, as was evidence of the great power of the Holy Spirit in the life of Stephen (Act 7:55).
We are to draw all our persecutors to Christ, we must live a life of forgiveness and the love (forces) of God (Holy Spirit) will be celebrated soon in the life of such an individual.
Father, give us the grace to continually live out your life in us in Jesus Name. Help us to be good examples of what we read and teach in Jesus Name. Help us to resist the devil in words and action in Jesus Name. let your grace ever bounding in Jesus Name, O Lord! Arise and help us we pray in Jesus Name.
Remain blessed in the Lord
