Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ⁵⁶  and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

 ⁵⁷  But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse.

 ⁵⁸  When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him;  and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

 ⁵⁹  They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”

 ⁶⁰  Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!”  Having said this, he fell asleep.”  Acts 7:54-60.

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“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”  Colossians 3:2-4.

Despite the anger and immediate threat of the men toward him, Stephen “gazed intently into heaven”.

We may not face such anger and immediate threat as Stephen faced, but we will face so many temptations to set our mind on earthly things.  We will be tempted by earthly things that we know are bad for us:  love of money, sexual lust, gluttony, gossip, and addictions to alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.  But, we will also be tempted by earthly things that we think are good for us:  personal achievements, self-righteousness, and praise from men.  All these things, and so many more, will tempt us to set our mind on earthly things. 

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”  Romans 8:6-8. 

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:19-21. 

“Set your mind on the things above.”      

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;  who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”  Philippians 3:20-21.