Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Acts 7:54-56 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
MISSIONARY STEPHEN: STRENGTHENED BY GOD TO CONFESS HIS FAITH TO THE END
One member of the church of Christ at Jerusalem was a man named Stephen. He became a spreader of the Gospel in a most wonderful and powerful way.
When hauled before the Jewish authorities to explain his "evil act" of preaching about the crucified and risen Savior, Stephen didn't hesitate to bear witness to the Truth. Even in the face of death by stoning he did not hurl insults at his enemies but entrusted his soul calmly into the hands of God, displaying his Spirit-given faith to the end.
The Lord may not ever call on us to suffer the same type of persecution. He may not ask us to endure a painful, bloody death on account of our loyalty to Him and our stand on His Word. But we can and should expect to encounter opposition from the sinful, truth-denying world. Scripture testifies: "All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (1 Timothy 3:12).
How will we fare when it happens? What a comfort to know that as we look to Jesus the Savior, He promises to empower us to hold fast to Him. And it will serve as a mighty witness to the truth of the Gospel and the hope we have anchored in Him. He will use our witness (as in the case of Stephen and all Christian martyrs) for the purpose of leading souls out of unbelief's darkness into the light of faith, so they too will enjoy the blessings of His love.
Tell how God the Father's will Made the world, upholds it still,
How His own dear Son He gave Us from sin and death to save.
Tell of our Redeemer's grace, Who, to save our human race
And to pay rebellion's price, Gave Himself as sacrifice.
Tell of God the Spirit given Now to guide us on to heaven,
Strong and holy, just and true, Working both to will and do.
(Lutheran Service Book, 830:2-4)
