Weekday Boost May 26

Weekday Boost

New Testament: Act 7:40-60

40while they said to Aaron – ‘Make us Gods who will lead the way for us, since, as for this Moses who has brought us out of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41That was the time when they made the calf and offered sacrifice to their idol, and held festivities in honor of their own handiwork! 42So God turned from them and left them to the worship of the Starry Host, as is written in the book of the prophets –

‘Did you offer victims and sacrifices to me, house of Israel,

all those forty years in the desert?

43You took with you the tent where Moloch is worshiped

and the star of the god Rephan –

the images which you had made to worship.

Therefore I will exile you beyond Babylon.’

44Our ancestors had the tent where they worshiped God in the desert, constructed, just as he who spoke to Moses had directed him to make it, after the model which he had seen. 45This tent, which was handed down to them, was brought into this country by our ancestors who accompanied Joshua (at the conquest of the nations that God drove out before their advance), and remained here until the time of David. 46David found favor with God, and prayed that he might provide the God of Jacob with a place to reside. 47But it was Solomon who built a house for God. 48Yet it is not in buildings made by hands that the Most High dwells. As the prophet says –

49‘The heavens are a throne for me,

and the earth a stool for my feet.

What manner of house will you build me, asks the Lord,

or what place is there where I may rest?

50Was it not my hand that made all these things?’

51Stubborn people, heathen in heart and ears, you are for ever resisting the Holy Spirit; your ancestors did it, and you are doing it still. 52Which of the prophets escaped persecution at their hands? They killed those who foretold the coming of the righteous one; of whom you, in your turn, have now become the betrayers and murderers – 53You who received the Law as transmitted by angels and yet failed to keep it.”

54As they listened to this, the Council grew frantic with rage, and gnashed their teeth at Stephen. 55He, filled as he was with the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes intently on the heavens, and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand.

56“Look,” he exclaimed, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand!” 57At this, with a loud shout, they stopped their ears and all rushed on him, forced him outside the city, 58and began to stone him, the witnesses laying their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59And they stoned Stephen, while he cried to the Lord, “Lord Jesus! Receive my spirit!” 60Falling on his knees, he called out loudly, “Lord! Do not charge them with this sin;” and with these words he fell asleep.

Prayer Friday: Prayers for the Persecuted Church

Hymn for the Day: By All Your Saints Still Striving

Author: Horatio Nelson (1864)

1 By all your saints still striving,
for all your saints at rest,
your holy name, O Jesus,
forevermore be blessed!
For those passed on before us,
we sing our praise anew
and, walking in their footsteps,
would live our lives for you.

2 We praise you for the Baptist,
forerunner of the Word,
our true Elijah, making
a highway for the Lord.
The last and greatest prophet,
he saw the dawning ray
of light that grows in splendor
until the perfect day.

3 All praise, O Lord, for Andrew,
the first to welcome you,
whose witness to his brother
named you Messiah true.
May we, with hearts kept open
to you throughout the year
proclaim to friend and neighbor
your advent ever near.