Extracted from 'Our Daily Bread'
Just Tell The Story
Just Tell The Story
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 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.
And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city. (Act 7:59-8:8)
The main character in the movie Up Close And Personal is a TV newsman who of the world's trouble spots. After his death, he is remembered for saying, "I once thought reporting was about glory. But I'm here for only one reason - to tell the story."
In Acts 8, we read that Jerusalem's Christians were scattered abroad to escape persecution. Everywhere they went, they preached the message of Christ (v.4). Saul, their persecutor, was later converted and became an apostle. Toward the end of his life, Saul, also known as Paul, decided to go to Jerusalem, where he knew he would be persecuted. But he remained undeterred, declaring that his purpose was "to testify to the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).
God still calls people to tell the good news of Jesus to those who don't know Him. In his book The Conversion Of The Church, Samuel Shoemaker states, "The demand is human heart-hunger. The supply is the grace of God. We are only distributors." But we don't work alone or with mere human energy. God is working is us (Philippians 2:13).
When witnessing for Christ, may it be with love and humility - motivated by a desire for His glory, not our own. We're just here to tell the story. - Joanie Yoder
And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city. (Act 7:59-8:8)
The main character in the movie Up Close And Personal is a TV newsman who of the world's trouble spots. After his death, he is remembered for saying, "I once thought reporting was about glory. But I'm here for only one reason - to tell the story."
In Acts 8, we read that Jerusalem's Christians were scattered abroad to escape persecution. Everywhere they went, they preached the message of Christ (v.4). Saul, their persecutor, was later converted and became an apostle. Toward the end of his life, Saul, also known as Paul, decided to go to Jerusalem, where he knew he would be persecuted. But he remained undeterred, declaring that his purpose was "to testify to the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).
God still calls people to tell the good news of Jesus to those who don't know Him. In his book The Conversion Of The Church, Samuel Shoemaker states, "The demand is human heart-hunger. The supply is the grace of God. We are only distributors." But we don't work alone or with mere human energy. God is working is us (Philippians 2:13).
When witnessing for Christ, may it be with love and humility - motivated by a desire for His glory, not our own. We're just here to tell the story. - Joanie Yoder
I love to tell the story,
For some have never heard
The message of salvation
From God's own holy Word. - Hankey
For some have never heard
The message of salvation
From God's own holy Word. - Hankey
God has left us in the world to witness to the world.
