Let's not be hope killers

Sunday April 11, 2021

Let's not be hope killers

Saul had approved of Stephen's murder. On that day there was great persecution against the Church in Jerusalem. Acts 8.1

Do you know what thrills me about reading this ? Saul thought he was serving God !

How many people have we stoned with our words thinking that we are serving Jesus ? I tell you, let's be careful how we throw our stones. Sometimes they can hurt people or kill dreams. Stephen never physically recovered from this assault although later Saul of Tarsus repented of his action.

"What is the element that brought you to Jesus ? Is it a pebble or a cross ?"

I remember the difficult testimony of a friend of my mother's. Her husband, of Catholic tradition, easily let his wife go to the evangelical church, until one day he met a member of the church. That day, filled with good intentions, the Christian began to speak of the Lord to the husband, to win him to Christ. After a while, seeing himself run out of arguments without having been able to convince his interlocutor, the brother ended up lambasting the Catholics ! Back home, the husband hurt by the words of the man he met, formally forbids his wife to return to his church. For several years, the young woman had to go to meetings in secret. Even though the Christian later regretted his words, the damage was done, the stone had been thrown and years of sadness followed.

What is the element that brought you to Jesus ? Is it a pebble or a cross ? Is it contempt or love for God ? Is it the condemnation of men or divine grace ?

A prayer for today

Lord, I don't want to throw stones at people because they don't think like me. Make me a person of prayer and not a stone thrower.

Patrice Martorano

Source (The Thought of the Day)