In the shelter of your presence, O Lord, hide me from human plots ...

​Acts 7:51- 8:1 & Psalm 31

St.Luke, the writer of Acts, reports that as he was stoned, Stephen was gazing into heaven and saw the glory of God, with Jesus standing at his right hand. In spite of the plot of the council that was testing him, Stephen maintained his dignity and composure by staying in the presence of the Holy Spirit of God.  Proof of this is that, like Jesus, he prayed as he died that this sin would not be held against his murderers. Human plots, whether they are the ‘good’ agendas of security, comfort and wealth, or  ‘bad’ agendas of persecution, disrespect or neglect, vie with the Holy Spirit to take me down into the pit of self-reference and despair.  But as much as I keep my eyes open and fixed on Christ Jesus, I am in reality able to escape human plots that try to work against the Holy Spirit.  In the shelter of your presence, O Lord, hide me from human plots. 
 
Into your hands I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.  (Psalm 31:5) 

Wasn’t it smart of God to send us into this world with nothing and then take us back with nothing so we’re reminded that the most valuable thing in life is that we belong to Him.
Steve Chapman
 
Soli gloriam dei .