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Unstoppable! 'Asked!' — Acts 6:12-13, 7:1 Saturday, March 30, 2024 [The lies of the false witnesses against Stephen] aroused the people, the elders, and the teachers of religious law. So they arrested Stephen and brought him before the high council. The lying witnesses said, "This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses." ... Then the high priest asked Stephen, "Are these accusations true?" — Acts 6:12-13, 7:1 NLT Key Thought The sham trial of Stephen begins with a question. Stephen will answer it boldly in his words that follow. The words of Stephen's defense are not soft and easy on the ears of those who want to kill him. He will speak the truth that they do not want to hear. He will do it in the context of their long line of salvation history rooted in God's promises to Abraham and his people. For me, the actions of Stephen's accusers remind me how easily I can slip from being a person who represents God and desires to save a lost world into becoming a person who wants God to save me and condemn anyone who disagrees with me. Stephen is my clarion call to humility and to keeping my eyes on Jesus! TODAY'S PRAYER O God, please forgive me when I want you to do for me the things that I desire and forget what you have called me to do and to be in my broken world. I do offer you my life to be used for your Kingdom, Jesus' glory, and the Spirit's work in the world. Amen. RELATED SCRIPTURE READINGS Romans 12:1-2 Colossians 2:12, 3:1-4