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For I know the plans I have for you,declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Today's Passage : Today's Passage :Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin [4] Bible Verse:Acts 7:35-43 (ESV) "“This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ Illuminated Letter T his is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices, during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? You took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’”" Message:
The shape of Stephen’s long speech to the Sanhedrin begins to take shape. Although it sounds like a simply synopsis of Hebrew history, we start to hear an emphasis on the Hebrews’ repeated refusals to worship God or follow his prophets.
It is becoming clear that Stephen has no interest in proving his “innocence” of the charge against him: preaching the word of Christ. Instead, he is lecturing the Sanhedrin, but doing it in a gradual way, so that they will not force him to stop talking. He wants them to hear the entire argument he has in mind to deliver to them.
Moses song
He shows the disobedience of the Hebrews to Moses and their unwillingness to accept a prophet who had been sent by God. He shows the consequences that flowed from that disobedience, i.e. a return to slavery under a foreign power. And finally, he recounts the prophesy given by Moses, that God would raise up a future prophet from among their people.
He is, in short, reminding them that the Word of God is a living thing and that God could send a new prophet with a new and improved Message. In all fairness, the religious authorities of Judea were often devout men; they were not the idol worshippers who opposed Moses. Many times, the reason they would criticize Jesus was because he broke laws that they observed out of their obedience to God, the laws of Moses. And yet, Stephen is essentially comparing them to such idol worshippers, because they refuse to give up their old ways when God has sent them a messenger.
Meditation : Prayer : Walk with me, dear Lord, so that I may not be alone as I face this day, but always in your presence. Your joy is a lighthouse in a world often dark with sin, and I pray that I may reflect the light of your truth, to inspire others as I have been inspired. In the name of Christ, bless me this day, and all whom I may meet........Amen |
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