A HEART TO LOVE ALL

Good day dear friends.

I forgot to mention for your online pastors that if you click on this link you can find some sermon starters for this period in the Lectionary. Yours truly was asked by the UM Publishing House to write this and that was quite an honor.
http://www.umph.org/pdfs/circuitrider/ACPS003806PDF001.pdf

Here is our study guide for this week: In Acts 6:8ff, we find the sad story of Stephen, whom the Bible says was “full of grace and power, (and) did great wonders and signs among the people.” His faith was an example of a willingness to do what God had asked of him. How does your faith compare?

Here is that text from Acts 6:8 Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. 11 Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." 12 They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. 13 They set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us." 15 And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Stephen's "success" or "winning secret" was 1) Knowing the Lord, 2) Listening to Him, 3) Being filled with the Holy Spirit, and 4) Doing God's will. The sad thing was here is a man of God doing God's work for all people and another "church" as it were (synagogue), "could not withstand the wisdome the Spirit with which he spoke." Imagine jealousy and envy in the church?? No way, right?? They decided they would silence him and so, like Jesus, came up with false accusations of his speaking against the house of God. Yet, even in the face of those accusations, verse 15 says "his face was like the face of an angel."

How many of us can stay and angelic in the face of lies and falsehoods against us and our ministry? Stephen never lost God's love for others because God had placed that love in his heart. And God will do the same for us if we ask. A famous pastor of a very large church once presented to another group of us and opened with, "You all think I have it made because I have this huge church and I've been the sole pastor all these years, but let me tell you, there is a group here that does not like me or what I say or do. And guess what they sit on the front pews of the church to remind me of their dislike, so every Sunday I pray this simple prayer as I walk from my seat to the pulpit, 'Lord, give me a heart to love these people.'"

Where do you feel less than appreciated? It is precisely there that you need to ask for God to share with you that which you need.

PRAYER: God of endless love, fill my heart for You, your people and myself. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.