Shine Like Stephen

How familiar are you with the story of Stephen? I was — but I missed a big part of it. I knew about the stoning and his death but not so much about how it all came about.

Acts 6 was my destiny this morning. It’s all about how busy the disciples were, preaching and teaching and spreading the word. Some got upset with them over food distribution — thought their widows were being mistreated in the process. The disciples were commissioned to preach and teach and decided they needed some food pantry help. I know that dilemma. They brought some good men forward and dedicated, commissioned them to this task.

They were doing a great job. Stephen was filled with the spirit and knowledge, and he became a target for those who had a bone to pick. They couldn’t out-argue him, so they decided to bring false accusations against him. Jealousy is a bad beast.

Life gets hard sometimes. People plot your demise, your defeat. They try to destroy your witness, tell lies about you, are even abusive. Stephen didn’t back down. He called them stiff-necked, stubborn, uncircumcised in heart and ears, actively resisting the Holy Spirit. They killed him.

The thing that gets me is that they saw Stephen’s face shine like the face of an angel. They knew they were telling lies. But they thought his death would fix their problems. Even as he died, he prayed for their forgiveness.

I’m going to get to meet Stephen sometime soon. My plan is to give him a great big hug and tell him how his life and example gave me courage, kept me steadfast during the hard times. Tell him thank you. Yep, definitely going on my heavenly bucket list.

My prayer today is to “shine” like Stephen during the hard times of life. To stand steadfast and declare the truth even if it kills me.

Love, Pam