In Christ Alone...

SCRIPTURE

Acts 6:8-15 (NRSV)

Stephen's compelling wisdom

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us." And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

DEVOTION

Whenever I read about Stephen, my heart feels so proud and so sad at the same time. I love how the Bible describes him. It says that Stephen was “full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people, spoke with wisdom and Spirit, and had the face of an angel.”

WOW! It would be such an honor to be described by any one of those attributes and Stephen encapsulated them all.

I truly believe to be such a man Stephen had to have had an amazing love relationship with God through Jesus Christ! He must have been a man well acquainted with scripture, prayer, devotion, and the praise and worship of our God.

Even in the face of enemies who lied on him and set him up to die, Stephen did not retract his GOOD NEWS message! He was compelled by Spirit to tell The Truth which is that God loves us so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life.

Out of Stephen’s great love for God’s people, Stephen called the people to repentance even in the face of their great hostility, rage, and violence.

Ultimately, Stephen was martyred because of his faith. He died a horrible death stoned outside of the gates of the city.

But, aren’t you glad the story does not end there? For, even as Stephen was dying, he looked up and saw of vision of God on the Throne and Jesus at God’s right hand!

Every day I pray that I will have the courage and the strength to share GOOD NEWS no matter what the obstacle, or the cost.

In my life, and in my country, the costs have been minimal. I may have endured a snide remark, a giggle behind a hand, or a sharp word spoken in anger, but this is nothing compared to what Stephen willingly sacrificed.

My friends, let us remember that there are yet countries in our world where believing in the Name of Jesus can cost you your life! Therefore, let us make up our minds to be bold witnesses of the resurrection and to pray daily for those people who put their lives on the line to share GOOD NEWS with people in need!

Will you pray with me:

Holy God, thank you for the witness and example of Stephen. I want to be so sold out for Jesus that I, too, would be willing to risk everything to share the good news. Please use me to show forth your greatness. I will boldly stand in Christ alone! Amen.

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From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com