Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Word
“And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” (Acts 8:1)
“And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.” (Acts 8:6)
Meditation
Today’s meditation is written by Susan Senechal.
I like to write about things I know. Even as I write devotions for this forum, I write about things in my life that have given me a different insight into the Bible verse. But I’m not going to lie: I know absolutely nothing about being persecuted for my faith. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Nor do I want to.
So how do I write a devotion on persecution? The first thing I did was break out my unabridged dictionary. It told me that persecution is a program or campaign to exterminate, drive away, or subjugate a people, in this context because of their religion; to pursue or harass with oppressive treatment; harass persistently. I guess I already knew that. But then I saw the origin of the English word, “Per+Sequence,” and “sequence” is “to follow one thing after another.”
Those early Christ-followers were doggedly pursued and harassed by the old guard synagogue leaders who had thought their problems would be over once Jesus was eliminated. Instead, those early apostles and disciples spoke up even louder, culminating with Stephen, who called the leaders a “stiff-necked people,” with “uncircumcised hearts,” who “always resist the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 7:51) Stephen was stoned to death for his words, the ultimate persecution.
But what followed the persecution of Stephen? What was next in the sequence of events? To escape persecution, those early Christians scattered across the known globe. But they didn’t stop talking: They proclaimed Christ wherever they went. And what happens next? Many saw, many heard, many came to know the power of salvation.
No, I haven’t been persecuted for my faith. But I have let fears and frustrations, circumstance and happenstance keep me from sharing my faith with others. When I allow that to happen I keep the next thing from happening. But when I tell of God’s work in my life, the next part of the sequence just might be that others will hear it and come to follow the one who can truly change their lives…Jesus.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me to closely follow you, and in my words and actions tell of your goodness, so that others may desire to closely follow after you, too. Amen.
Prayer for the Spirit in my Life
- For the Holy Spirit to grow my faith, an ever more confident trust in God.
- For the Spirit to teach me the language of prayer.
- For the Spirit to make my unholy life more holy.
- For the Spirit to round my rough edges and conform me to God’s intention for my life.
Benediction
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (II Cor. 13:14)