INTRODUCTION

Many people are exceedingly zealous of the traditions of men. 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...). The same has been true throughout church history. It is no secret that many saints of God were severely punished or 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 or rivers. Others were tossed into arenas with lions for rejecting traditions in favour of scripture. Why? Because men are zealous of their traditions!

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller 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 zealousness 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...).
• Why are people so zealous over traditions that often have no scriptural foundation? What are some examples you know of where someone was persecuted or martyred for accepting the scripture over the traditions of men?
• What are some unscriptural traditions for which men have been persecuted? Where do you stand upon these traditions?

PRAYER NEEDS

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

HYMN

Standing on the Promises

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