Siasi Fakatahataha 'a e Kakai Tonga

14/06/2026

Available on Audio
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-a8r2n-1aeac75

UCT Youth Devotion
Monday 15/6/2026

Scripture Reading - Genesis 23:1 - 19

Verse for the day - Genesis 23:4a: “Here I am, a stranger and a foreigner among you.

Theme - Have a Pilgrim Mindset

In Genesis 23, we find Abraham facing one of the most painful moments of his life: his beloved wife, Sarah, has passed away. After grieving and weeping for her, Abraham had to stand up and find a permanent place to bury her body. He approached the sons of Heth, who owned the land, to buy a burial plot. When he made his request, Abraham said something very interesting in verse 4: "Here I am, a stranger and a foreigner among you." On the outside, it might look like he just meant he was a traveller moving through their neighbourhood. But Abraham referred to something much deeper. He knew that even though God had promised this land to his future family, he did not permanently belong to this world. Abraham spoke this way because his eyes were fixed on an eternal home built by God.

As we journey through this life, young people need to remember that we are also foreigners and visitors in this world. This means we must develop a "pilgrim mindset." A pilgrim is someone who is just travelling through a country on their way to their true, final destination—and for us as Christians, that destination is Heaven. When we have a pilgrim mindset, we don't get too attached to the things of this world, such as chasing popularity, money, or building wealth. We need to set our priorities right. Our main priority as Christians is to take the gospel to all nations and people groups. We also need to realise that today's temptations and struggles are only temporary. Our true identity is not defined by this world's standards, but by our citizenship in God's heavenly kingdom.

This pilgrim mindset completely changes how we treat the people around us. When Abraham bought the burial plot from the sons of Heth, he conducted the transaction with absolute honesty and integrity to glorify God. He did not try to manipulate them or beg for a cheap bargain. In fact, when the owner offered him the land for free as a polite gesture, Abraham insisted on paying for it. And when they named a very high price of four hundred shekels of silver, Abraham did not argue, complain, or try to negotiate a lower deal. He simply weighed out the silver and paid the full price right away. Because he was a pilgrim, he didn't care about hoarding worldly wealth; he cared about protecting his testimony and showing respect to the people around him.

There is an amazing lesson here for young people today. When dealing with the world, Abraham teaches us that we should never use shady shortcuts, cheat on tests, or lie to get ahead just to secure a "good bargain" in life. Instead, we must do everything with fairness, transparency, and honour so that the world can see the character of the God we serve. Let us stop living as we belong to this world, and start living like pilgrims who are just passing through. Take on a pilgrim's mindset and reflect that in all that you do in this world, that we are just passing by.

Prayer - Dear Heavenly Father, please help the young people of our church to remember that this world is not our final home and give us a true pilgrim mindset. Grant us the grace to deal with the people around us with honesty and Godly integrity, so that everything we do brings glory to Your name. Amen.

14/06/2026

Fanongo he hiki Le'o
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-ee2ce-1aeabb0

Me’atokoni Faka’aho
Monite 15/06/ 2026

Lesoni: 1 Tesalonaika 3: 3 “Ke ‘oua na’a ue’i ha tokotaha ‘I he ngaahi mamahi ko ia. Seuke, ‘oku mou lāu’ilo ko e me’a ia ‘oku tau nofo ki ai.”

Kaveinga: ‘Oua ‘e teki ki he fakamamahi, tala ke a’u e Kosipeli.

Akonaki mei he folofola:
Sisu e fotu ‘I he toko mano, Masani ange he me’a fulipē, ‘oku ou tumu ho afeitaulalo, si’I ‘ofa’anga hoku Laumalie. Ko e fakafeta’I ia ‘o e pongipongi ni, ko e afeitaulalo ‘a e ‘Otua taumama’o ‘o tau ‘inasi ai he mo’ui fakatou’osi, ‘io he me’a’ofa mo’ui koeni pea fungani ko e malava ke tau kau he tapuaki ‘o e mo’ui kaha’u na, Fakafeta’I aipe he’ene tauhi mo ‘ene ‘ofa.

Ne kamata ‘e Paula mo Sailosi pehē kia Timote ‘a e ki’i Siasi ko’eni ‘I Tesalonaika pea ‘oku malava ke tau ‘ilo heni e ‘uhinga e talanoa e vahe 3 ne nau mavahe mei ai koe’uhi ko e kakaha ‘o e fakatanga (persecution). ‘Oku fakamatala kakato ‘e he tohi Ngaue 17 e talanoa ko’eni lolotonga ‘enau malanga kuo ‘ohofi kinautolu ‘e he kakai ‘o tuli ke tamate’i. Pea ko e uho pe ia ‘o e tohi ni ko e fakalotolahi he taimi faingata’a tautautefito ki si’i kau Kalisitiane.

‘Oku ‘omi ‘e he folofola ni na’e ‘ikai toe lava Paula ‘o foki ki Tesalonaika ka na’a ne fekau pe ‘a Timote ke ‘alu kiai ‘o sio ki he siasi mo vakai ‘enau mo’ui pe ‘oku fefe lolotonga ‘a e kakaha ‘o e fakatanga’i kinautolu mo ‘enau tui ki he lotu fo’ou. Ka ‘oku ‘akilotoa ai e mahu’inga ‘o e fakakaukau fakatauhisipi ‘a Paula. ‘Oku mahino ai e fakahinohino ‘a Sisu he talanoa e Sapate ‘aneafi ‘a e langa e fatu he ‘ofa ki he sipi ‘oku hange ‘oku ‘ikai ha tauhi. Ne pehē tofu e loto mo e Laumalie ‘o Paula he’ene tangi moe ‘ofa ki he kainga ni.
Ka ko e ako mahu’inga na’a ne fai mai ke ‘oua pea ‘oua mu’a na’a ue’I ha tokotaha he ngaahi mamahi ko’eni pe ko e fakamamahi ko ‘eni. Ko e mo’ui ki he ‘Eiki ko e mo’ui faingata’a mo’oni. ‘Ai ai e faingata’a mo e mo’ui fua kolosi mo’oni ka ko e kau tui kitautolu pea ‘oku tau mo’ui pe ‘I he tui. Pea ‘oku tau tui ki he mo’ui fua kolosi koe’uhi na’e hifo ‘a Sisu ‘o ‘ai e teunga ‘o e mamahi ‘o ‘ikai ha mamahi ‘e toe a’u ki he mamahi na’e fou ai ‘a Sisu koe’uhi ke tau fou kotoa pe ‘o ‘amanaki lelei ki he langilangi hili ‘a e mamahi. Ko e ‘amanaki ia na’e ‘I he ‘aposetolo ke ‘oua ‘e ue’I kitautolu he ngaahi mamahi. Ko e ha e me’a ‘oku ne fa’a ue’I ho’o nofo ki he ‘Eiki?

‘Oku fa’a hoko e mate hotau ngaahi ‘ofa’anga, pe hoko ‘etau masiva mo e ‘ikai ma’u ha me’a ke totongi e mo’ua, pea a’u ‘o ‘ikai ma’u ha fale pe me’alele ko e ngaahi me’a ‘o e mo’ui ‘oku ne ue’I mo’oni kitautolu ke tau fehu’ia e talaki mo e mo’ui ‘oku tau fai he’ene Kosipeli Fakamo’ui. Ko e fakalotolahi ‘o e ‘aho ke tau tu’u ma’u he kuo fou ‘a ‘Epalahame he mamahi, ‘a Noa, ‘a Tevita, pea a’u mai kia Kalaisi ko e sevāniti ia kuo falenga kotoa ai e mamahi kotoa pe, pea na’e foua ‘e he kau ‘aposetolo ‘o a’u kia Paula pea ko kitautolu ‘eni.

Ko e ‘aho pe kuo tau tofanga he fu’u mamahi pea mo’oni e tala ‘a e punake, tuku pe ‘a faingata’a ke ha’u ‘oua hoha’a ka lave mai neongo ‘ene vevela, tuaiekemo kuo ma’u ha ivi mei he langi ‘oku fe’unga ke tali ‘aki. Tui pe mo falala pea tekaki ki he ‘Otua ho ‘alunga pea tene ‘omi nonga.

Lotu - Ka tau ka ongosia he fa’a ngāue, manatu ki he langi ‘o kikitaki pe. ‘Eiki ‘omi kelesi mo e ivi ma’a kimautolu ke fai ‘aki ‘emau pilikimi. Ke ‘oua na’a ue’I kimautolu ‘e he ‘atakai ‘o e mamani mei he’emau nofo kiate koe. Ka mau piki atu pe neongo ‘emau vaivai ‘I he huafa ‘o Sisu Kalaisi ko homau ‘Eiki . ‘Emeni.

14/06/2026

https://youtube.com/live/op_mZPmmQ7k?si=elAKt53NqApTGQkq

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

13/06/2026

Available on Audio
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-ws8c9-1aea058

UCT Youth Devotion
Sunday 14/6/2026

Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1 - 8

Verse for the day: Romans 5:8 - But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Theme - God's Love Shown in Action

When we truly understand that we are born as sinners doomed to eternal death, we realise we are completely helpless to save ourselves. We cannot fix our own brokenness, and no amount of good deeds can wash away our guilt. We desperately need a divine Saviour, and that Saviour is none other than Jesus Christ. It is only when we admit our total helplessness that we begin to see the true, priceless value of God’s love for us.

Our verse for the day shows us that God did not just talk about love; He proved it through a massive, history-changing action: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." The most amazing part of this truth is the timing of God's action. Christ did not wait for us to clean up our lives, apologise, or start looking for Him. In fact, we were busy living in our sinful ways, ignoring God completely, when Christ came at the exact right time to die for us. Think about human relationships today. You might be willing to risk your life or do a huge favour for someone important, like a high-ranking leader, a famous celebrity, or a close friend. But would you risk your life for an unknown person, an enemy, or someone who treats you badly? Probably not. Yet, Jesus died for all people—including the broken, the messy, and the rebellious.

This rescue was accomplished entirely by God’s grace and has absolutely nothing to do with our own hard work. We are saved by grace through faith; faith is simply the hand that receives the free gift, but grace is the source. Because Jesus paid the ultimate penalty for every single one of our sins on the cross, we can live with a deep, overflowing joy. We no longer have to live under the heavy weight of shame or fear of judgment. Jesus did not lay out a payment plan for us to finish; He paid it all because He loves us deeply as His own creation.

As young people, we learn an important lesson from this passage about our worth and our response to God. Your value is not defined by your social media followers, your education level, or what other people say about you; your value is defined by the cross, where the King of the universe decided you were worth dying for. Because of this, we owe our entire lives to Christ. This week, let this understanding change how you live. Let's move away from selfish living and offer our time, energy, and talents back to Jesus, out of pure gratitude for His unstoppable love in action.

Prayer - Lord Jesus, thank You for loving us so much that You died for us on the cross while we were still lost in our sins. Fill our hearts with joy today, and help us to live our lives completely for You out of gratitude for Your amazing grace. In Jesus Holy Name, Amen.

13/06/2026

Fanongo he hiki Le'o
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-2wxbc-1aea015

Me’atokoni Faka’aho
Sapate 14/06/2026

Lesoni: Loma 5: 1 “Ko ia tau tuku ke fakatonuhia’i kitautolu ‘I he tui, ka tau ma’u melino ai mo e ‘Otua ‘i hotau ‘Eiki ko Sisu Kalaisi.”

Kaveinga: Ke tau ma’u melino he fakatonuhia ‘a e ‘Otua.

Akonaki mei he Folofola:
Malo Sisu ‘ofa, Malo Sisu Manukia, Fakafeta’i ho’o ‘ofa lahi fau kuo mau ‘inasi ai pea tu’umalie ai homau Laumalie he halafononga ‘o Taimi. Ko e hounga’ia ia ‘oku mei he loto ‘o e Kalisitiane kotoa he a’usia kuo tau kau ai he ua’i Sapate ‘o e tumu’aki ‘o e ta’u. Ko ‘ene ‘ofa ‘ata’ata pe ‘oku tau kau ai he lau mo fiefia ai he a’u, ke ‘O’ona pe ‘a e Kololia ‘o ta’engata.

Na’e tokanga lahi ‘a e ‘aposetolo ko Paula he’ene ‘Ipiseli ki he kakai ‘o Loma ke fakamahino ‘a e tefito’i fakakaukau ‘o e fakatonuhia ‘o e tangata ‘oku ma’u tokotaha pe ‘I he tui kia Sisu Kalaisi. Na’e ‘ikai mei ha’atau ngāue pe ha totonu ke tau kau ai, ka ko e ‘ofa mo e kelesi ‘ata’ata pe ‘a e ‘Otua. Pea na’e tu’unga pe ‘I he feinga ‘a e ‘Otua ke fakalelei kitautolu pea mo ia. ‘Oku tau lāu’ilo pe ‘a e ‘uhinga ‘o e fakalelei he na’e motu hotau vā mei he kamata’anga ‘I he’etau fili ki he angahala ka e li’aki ‘a e ‘Otua. Pea ko e ‘uhinga ia e fa’a fakalea ‘o e kelesi ko e ‘ofa ta’etuha ‘a e ‘Otua ke kumi kitaua ke fakafoki. Tala’ehai ‘e lava ‘e ha to e me’a he mamani ke tau foki ai ki he ‘Otua ngata pe ‘I he ‘Otua tokotaha pe tene fai hotau fakalelei.

Pea ‘oku tokanga ai e ‘aposetolo ki he ki’I fakakaukau hotau kaveinga ko e melino pe ‘oku fakalea fakapilitānia ko e peace. Ko e ‘uhinga ko e fa’ahinga nonga ma’u ‘I he melino. Kapau ‘e fai ha tau ha ongo fonua ‘oku tu’u tailiili leva ‘a hona kakai he ‘ikai mahino ‘a e me’a ‘oku nau lue kiai, ka e ‘oua ke melino ‘a e tau pea ‘oku ‘I ai e fa’ahinga nonga ia ‘oku makehe ko e nonga ia ‘oku talanoa kiai ‘a e ‘aposetolo. Ko e nonga ‘oku ‘ikai malava fa’a fakamatala’i ‘a ia ‘oku mama’o ‘I he ‘atamai kotoa pe. He neongo ne ‘ikai tetau fai tau mo e ‘Otua ka ko ‘etau talangata’a ki he ‘Otua pea mahino mai he hifo na’a Ne fai ‘ia Sisu Kalaisi kuo tau fakalelei mo e ‘Otua ‘o fakatonuhia ke ui ko ‘ene fānau. Pea ko e nonga ia ‘oku tau ma’u he taimi ‘oku mahino mo mahu’inga malie kiate kitautolu ‘a ‘etau ma’u melino mo e ‘Otua.

Ko e mamani puputu’u ‘eni pea na’e ‘I he kuonga ‘o Loma e tūkunga tatau, he na’e lahi e ngaahi tokateline fakahē mo e akonaki hala ‘o ne ue’i e loto mo e fakakaukau ‘a e kakai tokua ko e fakamo’ui ‘a e ‘Otua na’e malava ke ngaue’i. Ka na’e fakamahino ‘e Paula ko e ki’i me’angaue pe ‘oku fiema’u keke to’oto’o mai ko ho’o tui. (Salvation by faith through Grace) ko hotau fakamo’ui ‘oku fou pe he tui ki he fakatonuhia ‘a e ‘Otua ma’a kitautolu. Pea ko e nonga koia ‘oku ne fakalotolahi’i kitautolu he fononga’anga he ‘oku ‘ai ai e faingata’a ‘etau kau he lotu mo e lahi e ngaahi mamahi mo e faingata’a ‘o e mamani ‘oku ne ue’i ngofua ‘etau mo’ui ke tau hehema mei he fakamo’ui ‘a e ‘Otua.

Ko e uki ‘o e ‘aho ni ke tau Ma’u e melino mo e nonga ‘a e ‘Otua. Pea ke tau nofoma’u ai he masiva mo e mamahi mo e ongosia. Tu’u ai he tui mo e falala kakato kae ‘oua kene to e foki mai.

Lotu - ‘Otua ‘omi ‘a e nonga mo’oni ki homau loto he ‘aho ko ‘eni pea ke tapuekina ‘emau mo’ui ke tu’u taula ‘emau tui ‘oua na’a ue’i he tūkunga ‘o e mamani. ‘Omi kelesi ke fai ‘aki ‘emau pilikimi mei Taimi ki ‘Itaniti na. ‘I he huafa pe ‘o Sisu Kalaisi ko homau Huhu’i. ‘Emeni.

12/06/2026

Available on Audio
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-m7fjc-1ae8db8

UCT Youth Devotion
Saturday 13/6/2026

Scripture Reading: Mark 7:1 - 13

Verse for today: Mark 7:9 - Then He said, "You skillfully sidestepped God's law in order to hold on to your own tradition.

Theme - What Do You Value More: God's Law or Tradition?

When you grow up in the diaspora, living far away from your family's home country, it is normal to want to learn about your culture. You want to know your language, your roots, and your identity. But a big danger can happen: we can start to care more about our cultural traditions than about what God says in the Bible. This is exactly what the Pharisees did in the time of Jesus. In our scripture today, Jesus told the Pharisees, "You skillfully sidestepped God's law in order to hold on to your own tradition." This means the Pharisees were very clever at changing or ignoring God's rules so they could keep their own human customs. They made their traditions look holy, but they were actually disobeying God.

Jesus gave a clear example of this in the later verses. God's law says we must honour and take care of our aging parents. But the Pharisees created a tradition called "Corban." They would say their money belonged to the temple as a gift to God. Then, they would tell their parents, "Sorry, I cannot help you because my money is for God." They used a religious tradition to break God's real command to love their family. Today, young people face similar problems. For example, in many migrant cultures, there is huge pressure to donate large sums to big cultural events or to family gifts just to look good. Sometimes, families go into heavy debt or fight with each other just to follow a tradition, instead of being loving, honest, and peaceful at home.

As young people, we must be careful not to fall into this same trap. We need to remember that our culture and traditions must always sit under the Authority of the Word of God, not the other way around. Culture is beautiful, but it is made by humans, so it is not perfect. If any part of our tradition forces us to do something wrong, or makes us proud and angry, we must be brave enough to stop doing it. We cannot use the excuse, "But this is just my culture!" to disobey God.

Our true identity is found in Jesus Christ, not just in our cultural background. God does not want us to follow rules just to show off or impress our community. He wants us to obey Him from the heart. Think about King Saul in the Bible—he disobeyed God's direct commands but thought he could make God happy by offering expensive sacrifices. God told him that obeying Him is much better than offering sacrifices. Let us love and respect our culture, but always put God’s Word first in our lives.

Prayer - Almighty God, help us to love our culture without letting human traditions take the place of Your Word. Give us the courage to leave behind any tradition that goes against Your truth, so we can obey You completely. In Jesus Name, Amen.

12/06/2026

Fanongo he hiki Le'o
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-zmkeg-1ae8cc9

Me’atokoni Faka’aho
Tokonaki 13/06/2026

Lesoni: Ma’ake 7: 6 “Pea tali ‘e ia, ‘E hala ā ‘a e palōfisai ‘a ‘Aisea ‘iate kimoutolu malualoi! ‘o hange koia kuo tohi, Ko e kakai ni ‘oku nau faka’apa’apa kiate au ‘aki honau loungutu, ka ko honau loto ‘oku fakamama’o.”

Kaveinga: ‘Oua ‘e piki he nge’esi e lotu, fai ‘I mo’oni, fai ‘I Laumalie.

Akonaki mei he Folofola:
Ke tau kau fakataha mu’a mo ha’a takalangi he fakafeta’i mo e fakamālō mo e tuku koloia ki he ‘Otua Mafimafi he ‘ofa kuo tau lavemonū ai he ‘aho fo’ou ni. Ko hai na’e ‘ilo e hala fononga ka ko e ‘Otua Laui-‘Itaniti ia ‘oku ne kau he’etau me’a kotoa pe, pea tau lave ai he tapuaki ‘o e mo’ui he ‘aho ni.

Ko e talanoa malie hono hiki ‘e Ma’ake ‘a e folofola ‘o e ‘aho ni ko e fehu’ia ‘e he kau ako ‘a e kai ta’efanofano ‘a e kau ako mo e ngaahi ouau na’e tauhi ‘e he matua mei mu’a ke fakalahi ki he lao mo e tu’utu’uni fekau’aki mo hono fai ‘o e lotu. Pea ko e tali malie na’e fai ‘e Sisu fekau’aki ‘eni mo e fai ‘o e lotu. ‘Uluaki na’a ne ui e kau Falesi ko e kau Malualoi ‘o hange pe ko ‘ene fa’a ui kinautolu. Pea ne to’o mai pe ‘a e veesi mei he tohi ‘a ‘Aisea 29:13 ‘o hange ko hotau veesi e ‘aho, ko e kakai ni ‘oku nau fai fakaloungutu pe ‘a e lotu. Ko ‘enau fakafeta’i ‘oku fai pe ia ‘e he ngutu, ko e fua kavenga ‘oku fai pe he ngutu, ko ‘enau faka’apa’apa ki he ‘Otua ‘oku fai pe ia he ngutu. Mole ke mama’o ha me’i ngāue ‘oku fai mei he loto.

Pea ne’ine’i visone mama’o ‘a ‘Aisea he ko e tala ‘o e kakai pehē ‘oku ‘ikai ha momo’i fakahoifua ‘e taha ki he ‘Otua he’enau lotu ‘oku fai. ‘Io ‘oku ‘ikai tali ha lotu ha kakai malualoi ‘e he ‘Otua. Talamai ‘e Sisu ko e koto kulanoa ‘enau lotu ‘oku fai he ‘oku nau feinga ke malie honau ngutu mo e fakamatala ke malie’ia ‘a e kakai ka ‘oku ‘ikai pe ha me’i mooni ia ai. Taimi lahi ‘oku ou hoko ko e Falesi he mo’ui ‘oku ou fai, ka ‘oku akonekina au he folofola ‘o e ‘aho ni, ke tukuange ia he ko e nge’esi e lotu ‘oka ‘ikai fai ‘I mo’oni mo Laumalie.

‘Oku tau fa’a lotu nai pea faingata’a ke tali ‘etau kole ‘oku fai? Pe ‘oku tau fakafeta’i nai pe mo hikinima ‘I falelotu faka-loungutu pe? Ko e uki ‘o e ‘aho ni ‘oku ‘ikai ha me’a ‘e kovi ka e fai ‘aki e kotoa e loto pea ‘ai mei he loto ‘I he mo’oni mo e Laumalie. Pea ‘oku tau fakamo’oni ‘e tali ‘e he ‘Otua ‘etau kole kotoa pe. Na’e fu’u tokanga e Falesi ki he mo’ui haisini, ‘a ‘ia ko e nge’esi sino ‘auha ke ma’a mo taau ki he vakai ‘a e kakai. Pea kou tui ko e mo’ui haisini ko e mo’ui taau ia ke tau tauhi ki ai. Ka ‘oku ‘ikai ko e mo’ui ia ‘oku uho ‘aki ‘a e lotu. Ko e ipu ‘oku mahu’inga ange ke ma’a e loto ipu ‘I he tu’a ipu. Pea ka fakatou ma’a ‘a loto mo tu’a pea mo’oni e lea ‘oku taka ko e kakato ia e fakatoukatea.

Tau feinga ke tauhi ‘etau mo’ui mo hotau Laumalie ke fakahoifua ki he ‘Otua ‘aki ‘etau fai e lotu he mo’oni ‘o e loto. ‘Oua te tau tokanga ki he tafa’aki ka tau tokanga ki he ‘Otua ‘o fai ‘aki e loto kotoa. Pea talamai ‘e Sisu ‘oku toki hōifua ‘a e ‘Otua neongo pe ko e ha e lanu ho’o angahala mo ho teunga ka tene fakama’a koe mo ohi ki hono famili.

Lotu - ‘Oku mau fakamālō atu ‘e Tamai ho’o fie akonekina kimautolu ke mau ‘ilo e mahu’inga ‘o e fai mo’oni e lotu. ‘Oua na’a tuku ‘a Setane ke ne liua ‘emau mo’ui ke hange ko e Falesi ka ke mau fai ‘aki ‘a e loto mo’oni hei’ilo teke hōifua mai kiate kimautolu. ‘I he Huafa ‘o Sisu Kalaisi ko homau Fakamo’ui. ‘Emeni.

12/06/2026

11/06/2026

Available on Audio
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-zspvk-1ae78ef

UCT Youth Devotion
Friday 12/6/2026

Scripture Reading: Acts 7:35 - 43

Verse for today: Acts 7:42 - Then God turned away from them and abandoned them to serve the stars of heaven as their gods. In the book of the prophets, it is written, 'Was it to me that you were bringing sacrifices and offerings during those forty years in the wilderness, Israel?

Theme: Don't Be Stubborn: God Can Turn Away From Us

In Acts 7, we find a young leader named Stephen standing before the high Jewish council, delivering a bold message. The main purpose of Stephen’s sermon was to unveil the hidden, uncomfortable truth about Israel's history: while they proudly claimed to be God’s chosen people, their ancestors had a long, dark pattern of rejecting God's chosen messengers. He reminded the council that even though God miraculously rescued them from slavery in Egypt and appointed Moses to lead them to the Promised Land, the people refused to listen. They became stubborn, stiff-necked, and rebellious. Stephen was showing this modern religious council that by rejecting Jesus, they were acting exactly like their stubborn ancestors who preferred to do things their own way rather than submit to the true living God.

The tragic climax of this stubbornness is revealed in our focus verse today: "But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars." This is a terrifying statement. It means that when the Israelites repeatedly chose to be stubborn and deaf to God's warnings, God finally gave them exactly what they wanted—He stepped back, turned away, and abandoned them to their own sinful desires. When we harden our hearts against God's voice, His ultimate judgment is simply letting us experience the devastating consequences of living without Him. God’s patience is vast, but He will not force His presence on a heart that is completely determined to lock Him out.

In this verse, Stephen quotes a powerful rhetorical question from the Book of the Prophets (specifically Amos 5:25, part of the twelve minor prophets): "Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?" The expected answer to this question is a painful "No." On the outside, the Israelites were going through the motions of religious rituals in the desert, but on the inside, they were secretly carrying shrines to false star gods. This piercing question forces us to look in the mirror today. Are we actually worshipping the true God with our whole hearts, or are we just playing a religious game? We might show up to church or youth group, but if we are secretly giving our time, attention, and devotion to the idols of this world, our worship is completely empty.

The sobering truth of this passage is that God always knows the true colours of the very people He came to save. You can hide your stubbornness from your parents, your youth leaders, and your friends, but you can never hide your true heart from God. He sees the secret pride, the hidden disobedience, and the times we choose to ignore His Holy Spirit. For young people today, the most important lesson from the Israelites' wilderness journey is that stubbornness is a slow poison. Every time you consciously choose to ignore God's Word, your heart gets a little harder, making it easier to drift away until you wake up one day and realise you have completely pushed God out of your life.

As you navigate the pressures and temptations of your youth, let this scripture serve as a loving but serious warning. Do not let pride or the desire to fit in make you stiff-necked toward the Creator who loves you. Instead, make a daily decision to stay soft, teachable, and humble before God's truth. When you hear His voice speaking to you through the Bible or through a prompting in your heart, listen and obey immediately. Let’s be a generation that doesn't cause God to turn away in judgment, but rather a generation that draws closer to Him every single day, walking in the fullness of His protection, grace, and unstoppable love.

Prayer - Heavenly Father, we pray that our young people will never become stubborn or stiff-necked, but will always have soft and humble hearts that listen to You and obey Your truth whenever You speak through Your Word. In Jesus Name, Amen.