September 5, 2019

September 5

Running with Jesus

Acts 7:59-60 “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.  And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

     I couldn’t help but remember Christ response on the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” as I read Stephen’s response right before he died.

     This is a tough response when we are being crucified for things we know we are innocent.  Yet we see how we are to respond when others are hurting us.  We can know and understand Satan has blinded their eyes and they cannot know and understand the truth.  The truth is we are not enemies; Satan is the enemy of man. He wants to destroy lives and he is the chief deceiver and seeks whom he may devour. Are you going through something with a person?  Don’t let it make you quit, get bitter, or angry. Look at your circumstance from heaven’s view.  See them and have compassion because they are blinded by Satan and are walking in darkness. 

We want to be free to serve with a joyful heart so we lay this burden at Your feet and will run our race with a joyful spirit, because our joy is in You, not people, places, and things. Amen

I told you we would run into Saul and he will be here in the morning!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015