Acts 7:55-60 (NRSV)
Read Acts 7:55-60 on biblegateway.com
Verse 55But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Verse 56"Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" Verse 57But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Verse 58Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. Verse 59While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Verse 60Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.
Devotion
Did Stephen's martyrdom start transforming Saul's heart? Saul approved the stoning of Stephen, but in doing so, he became a witness of Stephen's bold faith in Christ as God's Messiah. Saul could try to match Stephen's boldness by going out to zealously persecute Christians. But he could not capture what Stephen had, what he saw missing in himself. It was that freedom to forgive, that assured peace, the belief that God welcomed him in death. Stephen's live faith exposed Saul's religion of dead rules. When Saul became Paul he recognized this. He realized he had nothing but garbage compared to "the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." (Philippians 3:8) Faith is contagious. What are our kids, our grandkids, our friends getting from us? Do they witness in us, our deeds, our words, the immensity of who Jesus is for us-and, yes, could be for them?
Prayer
Jesus, you are our true treasure, our Living Lord. Fill us with the Holy Spirit that what you have brought of yourself to us may be shared faithfully, boldly and lovingly with family and onlookers. Amen