What is it to be devout? Having witnessed the cruel stoning which Stephen endured at the hands of angry moralists these men were not turned away from trusting the true and living God. At the risk of suffering the same death, these men removed the pile of stones from off their friend, prepared his body for burial and carried him to a proper burial. They did not steal his body away under the cover of darkness so to keep themselves safe. Instead, they carried him and as they went they made great lamentation over Stephen. That means they were in obvious, visual sorrow over their friend's death. They made no attempts to hide their grief from any one around them though it could have meant certain death. We are so prone to justify our own self-indulgence with such petty excuses; yet these men were devoted even though it could have meant death by stoning.Devout men are not moved by the power of one like Saul, by the power of the councils of religion like the Sanhedrin, or by the influence of the multitudes of lost moralists whose cry is "less teaching about Christ" and "more preaching about me!" They are like the poor widow who though she had nothing, gave what she had. Devout men are like Mary whose chief interest was not "much serving" but her Lord. They are like these men who carried Stephen to burial and cried openly as they went.

These men showed all those around them that they believed God and loved their brethren. They showed that they trusted God to protect them even in this heated persecution. If we are not devoted to Christ and the church when times are good we surely will not be in the time of persecution. These were devout men, not simply because they performed this act, but because they performed it as unto the Lord. Being devout is being committed to Christ Jesus our Lord no matter the cost.

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SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH Of Princeton, New Jersey

LOCATION & TELEPHONE
Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd floor
150 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ, 08553
Pastor's Telephone: 615-513-4464

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Sunday 10 AM Bible Class
11 AM Morning Worship
Thursday 7:00 PM Mid-week Service
(The first Sunday of each month, morning worship begins at 10am followed by observing the Lord's Table. Afterwards we have lunch together.)