“Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:60.
The religious authorities have taken Stephen out of the city gate to stone for what they say is blasphemy against God. Stephen is brought to his knees by the stones being hurled at him. It is in that position that, with his last breath, he pleads with the Lord not to hold this sin against those throwing the stones at him, and he dies. Stephen, just before he passes from this life, prays for his enemies and persecutors, asking for mercy from God on their lives.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t know that I could do what Stephen did. I can picture me trying to plead for my own mercy, or trying to be reasonable with these people, or, worse, cursing them in some way. I am not so sure that I would seek mercy for my perpetrators. Even in the face of certain death, Stephen was grace-filled, seeking nothing but God’s forgiveness and mercy. This is the mark of a follower of Jesus: mercy, grace, and forgiveness in the face of the unloving and unlovable. This is the goal that I seek after, confessing my own shortcomings. On my death bed or if in the face of martyrdom, I hope to have the graceful and merciful heart, as well as the words of Stephen.
As we come into the New Year, my hope for each of us is that we not only seek God’s grace and mercy, but that we, also, seek to be His ambassadors of grace and mercy to the unloving and unlovable around us. Happy New Year to each of you!
Questions to consider: What would you hope to say in the face of your own death? What would it take for you to get your heart in that posture? Who, in your world, needs grace and mercy from you?
Prayer: Father, I thank You for Your grace and mercy towards each one of us. I pray that You will give me a heart like Stephen’s, who pleaded to You for mercy for his persecutors. Please give me a heart of mercy and grace in this New Year. Amen.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Christmas, 2008
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.
This pivotal verse expresses succinctly what God’s ultimate plan was for humanity. He gave the world – all humanity and creation – His Son so that, in Him, all would have the opportunity to enjoy a loving relationship with God forever. The response from humanity was the opportunity to believe in His Son, Jesus. Yet, God, in sending His Son, knew what it would cost, because the debt of Sin demanded payment. So either all humanity suffered forever under the yoke of sin and death or the Perfect One without blemish or sin would pay the price with the shedding of His blood.
Even as an imperfect father, I can hardly imagine allowing one of my children to be sacrificed. I would rather die in their place. And I know that many of you feel the same way. With that said, I cannot imagine what our perfectly loving Father must have gone through to allow this plan to be implemented. Yet, this is exactly what God did, and that is the real reason that we should celebrate Christmas, and not just once each year, but all throughout the year! “For God so loved the world (that includes you and me!) that He gave…..” “For the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus, the Word of God – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – humbled Himself and came as the ultimate servant for all humanity and creation for all time, past, present, and future!
Questions to consider: Do you know how much God loves you? Try to imagine how much it cost God to allow His Son, Jesus, to come to pay the price for us and our sin.
Prayer: Father, You paid such an incredible price – Your most precious Son, Jesus – for us. You loved us in our flaws and unlovable state. Thank You! Amen.
As we celebrate Christmas with our families and friends, please take some time to thank God for the ultimate present, the incredible gift that He gave to each of us.
CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS!
This pivotal verse expresses succinctly what God’s ultimate plan was for humanity. He gave the world – all humanity and creation – His Son so that, in Him, all would have the opportunity to enjoy a loving relationship with God forever. The response from humanity was the opportunity to believe in His Son, Jesus. Yet, God, in sending His Son, knew what it would cost, because the debt of Sin demanded payment. So either all humanity suffered forever under the yoke of sin and death or the Perfect One without blemish or sin would pay the price with the shedding of His blood.
Even as an imperfect father, I can hardly imagine allowing one of my children to be sacrificed. I would rather die in their place. And I know that many of you feel the same way. With that said, I cannot imagine what our perfectly loving Father must have gone through to allow this plan to be implemented. Yet, this is exactly what God did, and that is the real reason that we should celebrate Christmas, and not just once each year, but all throughout the year! “For God so loved the world (that includes you and me!) that He gave…..” “For the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus, the Word of God – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – humbled Himself and came as the ultimate servant for all humanity and creation for all time, past, present, and future!
Questions to consider: Do you know how much God loves you? Try to imagine how much it cost God to allow His Son, Jesus, to come to pay the price for us and our sin.
Prayer: Father, You paid such an incredible price – Your most precious Son, Jesus – for us. You loved us in our flaws and unlovable state. Thank You! Amen.
As we celebrate Christmas with our families and friends, please take some time to thank God for the ultimate present, the incredible gift that He gave to each of us.
CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
December 18, 2008 - Acts 7:59
“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’” Acts 7:59.
While Stephen proclaimed Jesus of Nazareth as the long-awaited Messiah, the members of the Sanhedrin pronounced Stephen a blasphemer, punishable by stoning to death. The process of stoning is an extremely painful way to die. The instructions were to not kill the “criminal” with the first or second blow, but not to be lenient by throwing pebbles. The object was to inflict as much pain on the person without killing them and to prolong their life as long as possible. Within a few centuries of the first century, most governments and religions, except fanatic Muslims, had outlawed stoning as inhumane.
It was in the midst of this tremendously painful experience that Stephen had the presence of mind to look toward heaven and pray. I must admit that I complain about the simplest and most minor of things. I get a hangnail and I whine and moan for hours about my “dreadful” condition. Okay, this is a bit of an exaggeration, but not much of one! The point is that I look toward my own inconvenience and problem instead of looking toward heaven for my solution.
Stephen’s posture was a wonderful model for us, whether a hangnail is our condition or it is a life and death situation. Looking toward heaven and praying to the Living God is the posture that we can long for.
Questions to consider: What position do you take when inconveniences or trials, big or small, occur in your life? What could you do to position yourself, as Stephen modeled?
Prayer: Father, it is my desire, when trials happen in my life, to look to You. Please give me the presence of mind to look to You in the midst of the trial. Amen.
While Stephen proclaimed Jesus of Nazareth as the long-awaited Messiah, the members of the Sanhedrin pronounced Stephen a blasphemer, punishable by stoning to death. The process of stoning is an extremely painful way to die. The instructions were to not kill the “criminal” with the first or second blow, but not to be lenient by throwing pebbles. The object was to inflict as much pain on the person without killing them and to prolong their life as long as possible. Within a few centuries of the first century, most governments and religions, except fanatic Muslims, had outlawed stoning as inhumane.
It was in the midst of this tremendously painful experience that Stephen had the presence of mind to look toward heaven and pray. I must admit that I complain about the simplest and most minor of things. I get a hangnail and I whine and moan for hours about my “dreadful” condition. Okay, this is a bit of an exaggeration, but not much of one! The point is that I look toward my own inconvenience and problem instead of looking toward heaven for my solution.
Stephen’s posture was a wonderful model for us, whether a hangnail is our condition or it is a life and death situation. Looking toward heaven and praying to the Living God is the posture that we can long for.
Questions to consider: What position do you take when inconveniences or trials, big or small, occur in your life? What could you do to position yourself, as Stephen modeled?
Prayer: Father, it is my desire, when trials happen in my life, to look to You. Please give me the presence of mind to look to You in the midst of the trial. Amen.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
December 11, 2008 - Acts 7:57-58a
“At this they covered their ears and , yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city, and began to stone him.” Acts 7:57-58a.
The Hebrew leadership can stand it no more. Stephen’s spouting out blasphemous statements, and they do all that they can to avoid hearing his comments. In the heat of their emotion, they pounce on Stephen, drag him outside of the city walls, and begin to hurl stones at him in order to kill him.
Stephen made his stand for Jesus and His kingdom, and now he was paying the ultimate price for his obedience. It is interesting that God did not deliver Stephen from paying this price. He did deliver him through it. In Stephen’s death, God brought him into his eternal reward, so even though he was not set free in this life, he was set free from this life.
Stephen’s story sobers me from flowery pictures of the “perfect Christian life.” This is an emotional, riotous event that ends with Stephen’s death, with plenty of troubles to follow for the young followers of Jesus. While my daily walk with Jesus Christ doesn’t have the drama of this scene, it is important for me to remember the “win/win” of the life and death issues of following Jesus. As Paul states, with all seriousness, in his message from prison, “to live is Christ, to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) If I make a stand for God’s kingdom, God might spare my life in this world or He might allow me to be released from this world to enter into His eternal purposes for me. I face the tension of living in this world or going to my eternal reward in the next.
Questions to consider: Am I living my life with my eyes on Jesus or the things of this world? Am I living in such a way that I can say, “to live is Christ, to die is gain?” What would it take for me to have a heart like Stephen, who stood firm in the face of death?
Prayer: Father, give me eyes to keep the goal of Christ and Your kingdom in my vision and the heart to follow after Him with all that I am. Amen.
The Hebrew leadership can stand it no more. Stephen’s spouting out blasphemous statements, and they do all that they can to avoid hearing his comments. In the heat of their emotion, they pounce on Stephen, drag him outside of the city walls, and begin to hurl stones at him in order to kill him.
Stephen made his stand for Jesus and His kingdom, and now he was paying the ultimate price for his obedience. It is interesting that God did not deliver Stephen from paying this price. He did deliver him through it. In Stephen’s death, God brought him into his eternal reward, so even though he was not set free in this life, he was set free from this life.
Stephen’s story sobers me from flowery pictures of the “perfect Christian life.” This is an emotional, riotous event that ends with Stephen’s death, with plenty of troubles to follow for the young followers of Jesus. While my daily walk with Jesus Christ doesn’t have the drama of this scene, it is important for me to remember the “win/win” of the life and death issues of following Jesus. As Paul states, with all seriousness, in his message from prison, “to live is Christ, to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) If I make a stand for God’s kingdom, God might spare my life in this world or He might allow me to be released from this world to enter into His eternal purposes for me. I face the tension of living in this world or going to my eternal reward in the next.
Questions to consider: Am I living my life with my eyes on Jesus or the things of this world? Am I living in such a way that I can say, “to live is Christ, to die is gain?” What would it take for me to have a heart like Stephen, who stood firm in the face of death?
Prayer: Father, give me eyes to keep the goal of Christ and Your kingdom in my vision and the heart to follow after Him with all that I am. Amen.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
December 4, 2008 - Acts 7:55
“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.” Acts 7:55.
Stephen had finished his statement before the Sanhedrin, charging the Jewish leadership with the killing of the Messiah. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, he looked up towards heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus, his Master, standing at the Father’s right hand. He even told the listening crowd, probably pointing towards the vision, that he saw Jesus standing at God’s right hand.
It is very significant in Stephen’s vision that Jesus is standing at God’s right hand, which was the position of ultimate authority. Here was truly the King of all kings in His rightful place of authority. Notice that, in the vision, Jesus is standing. It is interesting to note that when Jesus ascended to heaven, it is said that He sat at the right hand of God, presumably on a throne. Here in this vision, Jesus is standing at His position of authority, the right hand of God. I believe that He is standing in honor of the one – Stephen – who stood boldly for Him. Stephen laid down his life in service to Jesus and His kingdom here on earth, and Jesus is honoring him by standing up for him in heaven.
I don’t know about you, but I get chills thinking about Jesus’ personal honoring of Stephen. But that personal honoring came as a result of Stephen’s paying the ultimate price of laying his life on the line for Jesus. Not all of us are called to pay this kind of price, yet we are called to stand up for Jesus and His kingdom. We are called to love and to obedience for His kingdom’s sake.
Questions to consider: Are you standing up for Jesus? What does that look like in your daily life? How would you like to have a vision of Jesus standing up for you? What would it take for that to happen?
Prayer: Father, I desire to serve You in such a way that honors You. Please give me the ability to match my desire so that I will do all that I can to serve You. Amen.
Stephen had finished his statement before the Sanhedrin, charging the Jewish leadership with the killing of the Messiah. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, he looked up towards heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus, his Master, standing at the Father’s right hand. He even told the listening crowd, probably pointing towards the vision, that he saw Jesus standing at God’s right hand.
It is very significant in Stephen’s vision that Jesus is standing at God’s right hand, which was the position of ultimate authority. Here was truly the King of all kings in His rightful place of authority. Notice that, in the vision, Jesus is standing. It is interesting to note that when Jesus ascended to heaven, it is said that He sat at the right hand of God, presumably on a throne. Here in this vision, Jesus is standing at His position of authority, the right hand of God. I believe that He is standing in honor of the one – Stephen – who stood boldly for Him. Stephen laid down his life in service to Jesus and His kingdom here on earth, and Jesus is honoring him by standing up for him in heaven.
I don’t know about you, but I get chills thinking about Jesus’ personal honoring of Stephen. But that personal honoring came as a result of Stephen’s paying the ultimate price of laying his life on the line for Jesus. Not all of us are called to pay this kind of price, yet we are called to stand up for Jesus and His kingdom. We are called to love and to obedience for His kingdom’s sake.
Questions to consider: Are you standing up for Jesus? What does that look like in your daily life? How would you like to have a vision of Jesus standing up for you? What would it take for that to happen?
Prayer: Father, I desire to serve You in such a way that honors You. Please give me the ability to match my desire so that I will do all that I can to serve You. Amen.
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