Acts 7:54-60, Stephen put to Death

 ⁵⁴Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him.
 ⁵⁵But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; ⁵⁶and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
 
 ⁵⁷But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse.
 ⁵⁸When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
 
 ⁵⁹They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"
 ⁶⁰Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep.

You've heard it said "adversity doesn't build character...it reveals character". Unfortunately, for the elders, their character is once again revealed for all to see.

I understand the temptation. When somebody "spills the beans" on us and we are mortified...we want to silence them. I understand this was an age before the internet.Yet, we all know that once "the genie is out of the bottle"...he cannot be stuffed back in. These religious leaders would have been better served to act more circumspectly.

We don't really wonder why there is a growing hostility against Christ in our culture, do we? We shouldn't. As the Body of Christ takes it's rightful place and faithfully proclaims the "Good News" more and more people are going to take it personally and react. Why? Because, just like the folks listening to Stephen, people hate to be told they're wrong.

Let's not kid ourselves. The Gospel is very exclusive. "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me". It's not something people like to hear unless God's Spirit has already softened their hearts. Sometimes we're a little sloppy with the message, which only compounds the friction. So, we should recognize the inherent danger in "making disciples".

Stephen's response is instructive as well. "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!"  He knew his welfare was in God's hands and he didn't hold a grudge ("Love keeps no record of wrongs)"

Just like Jesus, Stephen won (having said this, he fell asleep). The religious leaders just didn't know it yet. We will win as well.

Live boldly out there today...