READING:
One-year plan: Acts 5-7
Two-year plan: Ezekiel 41:16-43:12, 1 John 2:3-17
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As a pastor, I have been with many people as they approached death. I have heard some singing as they depart, praying aloud as they meet Jesus, or resting quietly as death overtakes them. It’s in those times that I’ve realized just how much following Christ really does matter – He gives us life abundant both in this world and in the next.
The believers that I have seen die, however, have most often been under the care of a medical staff in a modern hospital. They have not been under persecution, as Stephen was in today’s New Testament reading. Even as the people railed against Stephen, he looked into heaven and saw the glory of God. I can only imagine what his persecutors thought as he cried out, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (Acts 7:56). In fact, their anger only grew, and they threw him out of the city and rained stones on him. As he died, though, he knelt down, prayed a prayer of forgiveness for his murderers, and simply “fell asleep” (Acts 7:60).
That’s what the gospel does: it gives us peace in life, and it grants us peace in death regardless of how we die.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Are you living in God’s peace?
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for peace in life and in death”
MONDAY’S READING:
One-year plan: Acts 8-10
Two-year plan: Ezekiel 43:13-44:31, 1 John 2:18-3:10
MEMORIZATION VERSE (November 1-15)
“And while he was blessing them, he left them and was carried up into heaven. After worshiping him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” (Luke 24:51-52)