God's Holy Fire: 'You Squander It!'

Friday, September 13, 2024

Your Support Matters!

Your donations are vital to help us keep the light shining.

 Donate Now
[In his defense before the Sanhedrin, Stephen said,] "And you continue, so bullheaded! Calluses on your hearts, flaps on your ears! Deliberately ignoring the Holy Spirit, you're just like your ancestors. Was there ever a prophet who didn't get the same treatment? Your ancestors killed anyone who dared talk about the coming of the Just One. And you've kept up the family tradition — traitors and murderers, all of you. You had God's Law handed to you by angels — gift-wrapped! — and you squandered it!"
— Acts 7:51-53 MESSAGE

Key Thought

These are harsh words that Stephen uttered to the religious mob that was about to kill him. Stephen's concern was not for his own safety or acceptance, but for the message that God's people refused to hear. They were rejecting the message of God just like their ancestors did. When the Holy Spirit inspires a message, we are no different than they were if we refuse to respond with heartfelt change. We are given God's message of truth and grace, but we squander that grace if we ignore the call to align our lives with it. Let's seek to hear God's message for us, then ask the Holy Spirit who inspired that message to empower it to come alive in us!

Today's Prayer

O God, help me hear your Spirit-inspired message and then respond with conviction and passion so that I can have your will come alive in my thoughts, words, and behavior. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Comments

Archived Facebook Comments

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, September 13, 2024

Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'The Sabbath Rest' (He. 3:7-4:11)
"Dear Father, I long to enter into your rest - into creative work that is effortless, into joyous activity in which there is no fatigue, into glorious..."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'My Disciples Are Good Citizens'
"Dear Beloved, You are reading from a letter the apostle Paul wrote to believers in Rome. They lived in the seat of the Roman Empire's government and...."
What Jesus Did!
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
'More Than All the Rest' (Mk. 12:41-44)
"Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a....."
Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by J. C. Geikie:
"An undivided heart, which worships God alone and trusts him as it should, is raised above all anxiety for earthly wants."

Illustration

Illustration of Acts 7:51-53 MESSAGE — "And you continue, so bullheaded!"

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

More God's Holy Fire

Translations