Dr. Barclay
Something to think about: Choosing Christ even when the road may be difficult.
Acts 7:54-60
59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Saul watched while the religious zealots stoned Stephen. Saul was a religious fanatic who persecuted the believers of Jesus. After Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus, he now believed in Jesus as Lord and stopped persecuting other believers. Yet for him, choosing Jesus came at a great cost, being jailed and shipwrecked. Saul also known as Paul suffered a lot after he was converted and he now knew what Stephen felt like. If we were in Paul’s place today, would we willingly suffer or would we shy away from hardship. This thanksgiving we should all be thankful we are part of the family of God and have the privilege to serve Christ, regardless of setbacks, difficulties and ridicule. We need to look to these wonderful examples in the bible and choose to go God’s way even when it is not easy.
Roxann Spicer
Theme: Do not fear and look at things through eyes of faith.
Ephesians 3:20-21
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
God can do super abundantly more than we can think to ask for. God’s power is greater than, king’s, governments or armies. God does super abundantly wonderful things through us. God works wonders according to his power through our faith.
1 Samuel 17:45
45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
David squares off with the giant Goliath with only 5 stones. David went out to fight Goliath in complete faith and confidence. David hit Goliath in the forehead and he fell dead instantly. David was victorious over the Philistines with only a sling and a stone, unlike Goliath having a sword, a spear and shield. Sometimes things do not seem like they will work with our natural eyes, but with our spiritual eyes they do. Goliath taunted David because of his youth and reddish complexion. Goliath wanted David to feel weak, but David stood firm and was victorious in God and showed the Philistines Jehovah is Lord. God wants us to live in abundance and have no fear.
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