~ The Example of Stephen ~
Series Scripture
~ Jesus said, “These things I
have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be
full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to
lay down one’s life for his friends. You
are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a
servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends,
for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and
appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should
remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one
another” (John 15:11-17).
Post Scripture(s)
~ Consider the example of the
Stephen who was martyred.
“When they
heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with
their teeth. But he, being full of the
Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at
the right hand of God, and said, ‘Look! I
see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of
God!’ Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped
their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city
and stoned him. And the witnesses laid
down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on
God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit.’ Then he knelt down and
cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do
not charge them with this sin.’ And
when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:54-60).
Additional Comment
~ We are to have the mind of
Christ (Philippians 2:5). Clearly
Stephen during this trying time did have His mind and acted in a Christ-like
way. Compare Stephen’s reactions above
to Christ’s actions on the Cross: “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’ … And
when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last” (Luke
23:34, 46).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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