10th. August.2022. Daily Devotions.

59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59-60

If you have suffered or are suffering because of someone else’s words, you’ll be glad to know that there is a balm for this laceration. Meditate on these words from 1 Peter 2:23; When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. Did you see what Jesus did not do? He did not retaliate. He did not bite back. He did not say, “I’ll get you!” “Come on up here and say that to my face!” “Just wait until after the resurrection, buddy!” No, these statements were not found on Christ’s lips.

Did you see what Jesus did do? He “entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” Or said more simply, he left the judging to God. He did not take on the task of seeking revenge. He demanded no apology. He hired no bounty hunters and sent out no posse. He, to the astounding contrary, spoke on their defence. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Sometimes I wonder if we don’t see Christ’s love as much in the people he tolerated as in the pain he endured. ~ Max Lucado, from “No Wonder They Call Him the Saviour”

Lord, let me always remember Christ when I am tempted to retribution. Amen.

O Lord, you are the beginning of all our goodness, the wellspring of all our loving and the source of all our freedom. Let your grace continually work within us, that your will may be done through us, and that we may always rejoice in your presence; now and for ever. Amen. Mary Ward (1585-1645)

Loving God, my shield and hiding place,
give me the courage to come from behind the shield,
give me the faith to leave my hiding place,
so that I might be willing to go into every place:
places of tears and trauma, places of disillusion and despair
as well as places of fun and fulfilment.
Displace my complacency and replace it with a spirit of boldness.
May I serve you till in heaven I take my place.
Until then, I place into your hands the things I should do, safe in the knowledge that you are my abiding place,
my dwelling place and my resting place. Amen.

Prayer to Treat Others Well                                                                                            
Father, thank you for bringing me into your family. May I never disappoint you in the way I treat others. Teach me to show love, patience, and acceptance to all who come to me; let me show peace of soul and firm conviction that your will governs all. And I pray that others may see in me the qualities of character that can only be attributed to your presence in my life. Make my life a window for your light to shine through and a mirror to reflect your love to all I meet. To you be the glory and the honour, forever and ever, through Jesus my Lord. Amen.