I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Monday morning, the 26th of August, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We go to the Book of Acts 6:15:

“And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him (that was Stephen), saw his face as the face of an angel.” 

You and I need to tell our story. Stephen was waiting on the tables. He wasn’t one of the apostles and yet he told his story. That story led to his death actually. They eventually stoned him, but the man who orchestrated the stoning - yes, Saul of Tarsus, because of that testimony, became the greatest of all the apostles when his eyes were open and he realised what he had done. We need to tell our story. When was the last time you told somebody about how you met Jesus Christ? Yes, it could make you very unpopular, it cost Stephen his life, but I want to tell you, there is no power greater than personal testimony. We need to tell our story.

Now, Fanny Crosby lived 100 years ago plus, and at 6 weeks old she went blind, but she became one of the greatest of all hymn writers, and probably her most famous hymn was the one, “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine”. I want you and I to sing it together this morning and then maybe we could go out today and tell somebody our story. You say, “But I am not a preacher.” No, Stephen wasn’t either! He was a waiter, he waited on the tables. It goes like this:

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Saviour am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.

Go out today and tell your story, 
Jesus bless you and goodbye.