By Village Missionary Movement

Thursday, 18-Mar-2021

Daily Devotion (English) – 18.03.2021

The first martyr

“Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” – Acts 7:60

Sanjivalu was an evangelist from Jehovah Shammah church in Vikarabad, Telangana. He was attacked by an unidentified gang with murderous rage two years back and he died as a martyr for Christ. If we look back on the history of Christianity, we can see lakhs of people who had laid down their lives as martyrs for Christ. They were the foundation on which the churches of today are built. 

In the Bible, Stephen was the first martyr for Christ. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the number of believers kept multiplying. Seven men were chosen and given responsibilities to be shared. They had to handle the daily business of giving food for the believers. Stephen was one among the seven to serve tables. But Stephen was full of faith and the power of Holy Spirit and he did great wonders and signs among the people in the name of Jesus. He kept preaching and teaching with zeal for Christ. There arose Jews from synagogue who stirred up the people and set up false witnesses and cast him out of the city and began to stone him. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he saw the heaven opened and the son of man standing at the right hand of God. Bleeding heavily, he prayed, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” Thus, he died as the first martyr for Christ.

What kind of service do we render to God? How do we honor our Lord? What have all we lost for the sake of God? Stephen was appointed to serve tables but he preached with signs and wonders. The Holy spirit worked through him powerfully. Do we brush aside the opportunity saying “I am not obligated to preach and win souls for Christ?” How can we remain still without doing anything for the Lord who had sacrificed His life to give us new life? We must always preach the good news boldly and be prepared even to lay down our lives to win souls. The Holy Spirit comes alongside to help us. 
-    Mrs. Bhuvana Dhanabalan

Prayer Request:
Pray that the souls that are reached out in Veduruvada, village in Andhra to get strengthened in their spiritual life.

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Village Missionary Movement, 
Virudhunagar, India – 626001
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