INTRODUCTION

Many people are quite zealous of following the traditions of men. For instance, the apostle Paul was so exceedingly zealous of the traditions of his fathers that he “persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women” (Acts 22:4And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
See All...). This same act has been true throughout church history. History reveals that many saints of God were severely punished and even put to death for rejecting unscriptural traditions such as infant baptism. In some cases, babies were ripped from the arms of their mothers and cast into lakes and rivers. Others were tossed into arenas with lions for rejecting traditions choosing to hold up scripture. Why? Because men are zealous of their traditions and will persecute to keep their ways intact!

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): God’s chosen people were zealous of their traditions of keeping the law and refused to believe Jesus was their Messiah (John 1:11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
  See All...; Romans 10:1-4 [1] Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. [2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. [3] For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. [4] For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
  See All...). Their zeal caused them to want to kill Jesus (John 5:15-18 [15] The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. [16] And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. [17] But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. [18] Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
  See All...).
• (For everyone): Why are people so zealous over traditions even when these traditions lack any scriptural foundation? What are some examples you know of someone persecuted or martyred for accepting the scripture rather than the traditions of men?
• What are some of the most prominent unscriptural traditions for which men have been persecuted? Where do you stand concerning these traditions?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to give you boldness to stand for His word.
• Ask the Lord to help you to be faithful unto death.

HYMN

STANDING ON THE PROMISES

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