June 23: Enjoying His Peace.
HIS TESTIMONY.
They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!...do not hold this sin against them!"--Acts 7:59, 60
The Greek verb martureo means to bear witness or testify. Many Christians lost their lives testifying of their faith in Jesus, and that's why nowadays the word martyr is used for a person who dies because of their faith. The death of the martyrs, such as the Czech reformer John Huss who was burned at the stake on July 6, 1415, was characterized by supernatural peace and bold testimony under the direst circumstances. This was also the case with Stephen, the first martyr.
After Stephen's final sermon, his audience "began gnashing their teeth at him" (Acts 7:54), as a prelude to his stoning. Stephen exclaimed: "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God" (verse 56). Not long earlier, Jesus had appeared before the high priest, prior to His crucifixion, and had made a similar statement: "Jesus said, 'I am [the Christ]; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven" (Mark 14:62). Now Stephen was giving testimony that Jesus, in fact, was at the right hand of God! So, they stoned him, just as they had killed Jesus! Stephen gave a testimony of who Jesus was and where He was! At that moment, Jesus was standing at the right hand of God, as a Witness to His witness. Acts 7:56 is the only occurrence of the title Son of Man outside of the four Gospels. I am amazed at the final words of Stephen and how they parallel the statements of Jesus on the cross. Jesus said, "Father, into your hands I commit My spirit" (Luke 23:46); Stephen said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" (Acts 7:59). Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing!" (Luke 23:34); Stephen said, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" (Acts 7:60). You might be called to give a testimony of your faith in Jesus under difficult situations, such as a life-threatening illness, trials, and persecution. Focus on Jesus and be bold, as Stephen was. God will give you His peace, which surpasses understanding!
My Response:________________________________________________________
HIS TESTIMONY.
They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!...do not hold this sin against them!"--Acts 7:59, 60
The Greek verb martureo means to bear witness or testify. Many Christians lost their lives testifying of their faith in Jesus, and that's why nowadays the word martyr is used for a person who dies because of their faith. The death of the martyrs, such as the Czech reformer John Huss who was burned at the stake on July 6, 1415, was characterized by supernatural peace and bold testimony under the direst circumstances. This was also the case with Stephen, the first martyr.
After Stephen's final sermon, his audience "began gnashing their teeth at him" (Acts 7:54), as a prelude to his stoning. Stephen exclaimed: "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God" (verse 56). Not long earlier, Jesus had appeared before the high priest, prior to His crucifixion, and had made a similar statement: "Jesus said, 'I am [the Christ]; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven" (Mark 14:62). Now Stephen was giving testimony that Jesus, in fact, was at the right hand of God! So, they stoned him, just as they had killed Jesus! Stephen gave a testimony of who Jesus was and where He was! At that moment, Jesus was standing at the right hand of God, as a Witness to His witness. Acts 7:56 is the only occurrence of the title Son of Man outside of the four Gospels. I am amazed at the final words of Stephen and how they parallel the statements of Jesus on the cross. Jesus said, "Father, into your hands I commit My spirit" (Luke 23:46); Stephen said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" (Acts 7:59). Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing!" (Luke 23:34); Stephen said, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" (Acts 7:60). You might be called to give a testimony of your faith in Jesus under difficult situations, such as a life-threatening illness, trials, and persecution. Focus on Jesus and be bold, as Stephen was. God will give you His peace, which surpasses understanding!
My Response:________________________________________________________
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