Stephen was the first person recorded in Scripture to give his life for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But in order for Stephen to be willing to give his life for Christ, he first had to be willing to live his life for Christ.
We're blessed enough as Americans to still live in a country where the persecution we face for our faith is probably not going to be nearly as stiff as this or in what we see in many countries throughout the world today. The unfortunate flipside to this is that comfortable American society has created a culture where we are less and less dependent on God and his church. So I dare say that the faith in America also isn't nearly as radical as what we may see from believers in more persecuted nations.
In the days of Stephen, Jews who accepted Christ as Messiah were usually cut off from their families. The early church truly acted as the church through the sharing of homes, food and resources in response to this need. Not only was this practical, but it was typically necessary. The number of believers eventually grew to the point where people were becoming overlooked and organization was necessary to streamline the sharing. Stephen was one of the seven chosen to oversee the distribution of food in the early church. In addition to being a skilled administrator, Stephen was also a very gifted and powerful speaker. God yet again would use an "everyday" person to accomplish a mighty work.
When confronted in the temple, Stephen made a bold defense before the Sanhedrin which was a summary of Jewish history and powerful applications which would seriously sting them. These religious leaders could not stand to have their motives exposed, so they stoned Stephen to death. Even as he was dying, he prayed for his murderers and accusers! His faith and boldness left an indelible impression on Saul (Paul) of Tarsus, who would shift from being what we would term in modern society as a murderous terrorist to becoming one of the fathers of Christianity.
When is the last time we have taken a risk to be a follower of Jesus? Would we be willing to die for Him? Are we willing to live for Him? Who can we encourage and inspire today?
Lord, help us to be ministers of the Gospel in our circles of influence - our workplaces, our friends, our families, our schools. Help us proclaim your goodness in all situations; not just when it's convenient or comfortable. Help us to see people through your eyes and heart. Break our hearts for what breaks yours.
We're blessed enough as Americans to still live in a country where the persecution we face for our faith is probably not going to be nearly as stiff as this or in what we see in many countries throughout the world today. The unfortunate flipside to this is that comfortable American society has created a culture where we are less and less dependent on God and his church. So I dare say that the faith in America also isn't nearly as radical as what we may see from believers in more persecuted nations.
In the days of Stephen, Jews who accepted Christ as Messiah were usually cut off from their families. The early church truly acted as the church through the sharing of homes, food and resources in response to this need. Not only was this practical, but it was typically necessary. The number of believers eventually grew to the point where people were becoming overlooked and organization was necessary to streamline the sharing. Stephen was one of the seven chosen to oversee the distribution of food in the early church. In addition to being a skilled administrator, Stephen was also a very gifted and powerful speaker. God yet again would use an "everyday" person to accomplish a mighty work.
When confronted in the temple, Stephen made a bold defense before the Sanhedrin which was a summary of Jewish history and powerful applications which would seriously sting them. These religious leaders could not stand to have their motives exposed, so they stoned Stephen to death. Even as he was dying, he prayed for his murderers and accusers! His faith and boldness left an indelible impression on Saul (Paul) of Tarsus, who would shift from being what we would term in modern society as a murderous terrorist to becoming one of the fathers of Christianity.
When is the last time we have taken a risk to be a follower of Jesus? Would we be willing to die for Him? Are we willing to live for Him? Who can we encourage and inspire today?
Lord, help us to be ministers of the Gospel in our circles of influence - our workplaces, our friends, our families, our schools. Help us proclaim your goodness in all situations; not just when it's convenient or comfortable. Help us to see people through your eyes and heart. Break our hearts for what breaks yours.
Much love in Christ,
Pastor Drew
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