Grace and Power

Scripture:  Acts 6:8-15

8 Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. 9 But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia. 10 None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke. 11 So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, “We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God.” 12 This roused the people, the elders, and the teachers of religious law. So they arrested Stephen and brought him before the high council. 13 The lying witnesses said, “This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses. 14 We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” 15 At this point everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s. (Acts 6:8-15 NLT)

Acts Chapter 7 contains the message and response Stephen gave to the Jewish council when the lying witnesses testified he was guilty of heresy. I hope you’ll take a few minutes and read the entire chapter (Acts 7) to appreciate the grace and wisdom of his life and witness. This is a man to be deeply respected!

Stephen was a man of faith, wisdom, grace, and God’s power. This attracted the attention of some religious people who took exception to his message about Jesus. Stephen wouldn’t back down, and they killed him. All the good things about him were lost to the church and the community he served. But as he died, he asked God not to condemn those who killed him!

Stephen demonstrated a quality of heart I long for – a nobility of character. Stephen wouldn’t blame or wish judgement on the men who killed him.

I hope I don’t have to lose my life for being good and faithful and true, as Stephen did. But I earnestly desire to have the faith and character not to become bitter and accusatory toward God and others when things don’t go well for me. And I want to be so filled with God’s grace that I don’t hold ill-will against those who treat me badly.

Prayer:

Father, I don’t know how to get the character, grace, and the nobility of Christ in me without going through experiences like Stephen faced. I’m not sure if those qualities are in me to the degree that you and I both desire unless they are tested, so I choose to leave that process in your loving hands, even though the process looks like it could be scary. I trust your love and care! In Jesus’ Name!