God of the Way, Truth, and Life, pour out Your blessing and strength on this dear reader today and all days; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Acts 7: 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, hardly noticed - he only had eyes for God, whom he saw in all his glory with Jesus standing at his side. 56 He said, "Oh! I see heaven wide open and the Son of Man standing at God's side!" 57 Yelling and hissing, the mob drowned him out. Now in full stampede, 58 they dragged him out of town and pelted him with rocks. The ringleaders took off their coats and asked a young man named Saul to watch them. 59 As the rocks rained down, Stephen prayed, "Master Jesus, take my life." 60 Then he knelt down, praying loud enough for everyone to hear, "Master, don't blame them for this sin" - his last words. Then he died. Saul was right there, congratulating the killers. (The Message)
The cost of following Christ varies from person to person, but it is not cheap. For Stephen, it cost him his life. This passage is a sad one for it tells of that death, the first death of one who died for Jesus. Stephen is called the first Deacon (servant of the Lord) and the first martyr. His crime? Following Jesus in a Spirit-filled and Spirit-led way. He was doing some unexplainable things that most would call miracles and speaking up the life of Christ which went against the Jews and their holy temple. The story goes that false witnesses were bribed to speak against him and so brought to trial they prevailed and they sentenced him to death.
Many today don't want to leave the comfort of the couch to follow Jesus. Others don't want to deviate from their normal routine. Some want their Sundays to themselves. Some feel called but won't leave their home or their job. Stephen left all, even this earth, to follow and be with Jesus. The Scriptures tell us that when he was on trial he had the face of an angel and also says that as he's dying this painful death, he prays that God not hold this sin against them. What is also interesting to note is that even in the midst of someone suffering and dying for God, God is at work in a mysterious and powerful way. One of the ones who was called to be a witness to this murder later becomes the greatest evangelist that ever preached during that early period of the Church.
Where are you? In the camp watching others do the work? In the camp that speaks against the ones doing the work? In the camp working hard to discredit and harm the one doing the work? Or is God at work in you calling you to faithful service? Be prayerful about knowing that serving God requires committment and sacrifice. It is not cheap.
PRAYER: Loving God as I pray this morning I know what camp I'm in. I ask that You place me where You will to do what You will in my life for Your good and Your people's good. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
