A room full of hate faces and gnashing teeth -- and yet, instead of exhibiting a face filled with

terror:

… [Stephen], 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!” (Acts 7:55-56)

** Quick side lesson here: when things are looking down, a Christ-follower looks up! **

We read in the New Testament that the resurrected and ascended Jesus is now in heaven,

seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1). But when Stephen gazed into heaven and

saw the glory of God, He saw Jesus STANDING at the right hand of God! I don’t know for sure

whether Jesus was giving Stephen a standing ovation or standing to welcome Him home. Either

way, Stephen’s faithful witness caused Jesus to come to His feet.

Stephen’s description of the amazing vision he was beholding further incited the people – to the

point that they took him outside the city and stoned him – with rocks that were practically

boulders. As these boulders smashed and crushed Stephen’s bones, he said the words, “Lord

Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59). And just before his final breath, he cried out with a

loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin” (Acts 7:60).

Do those words sound familiar to you? Do they not sound like the words of Jesus as He was

dying a horrible death on the cross? Are these the words of someone who was becoming more

and more like Jesus? Do they also sound like the words of someone who would rather die for

his faith than deny his faith?

When I was contemplating writing today’s devotion, I decided I didn’t want Stephen to die – I

wanted to wrap this up on a happy note. Yet the full story is important – he was the first

Christian martyr. Many more would follow. And many more WILL follow.

But this is also important: how he lived! I think Stephen’s story teaches us that living for Christ

prepares us to die for Christ. Stephen did not suddenly become selfless, courageous, and God-

focused when the angry people began lashing out at him. Long before these final moments, he

made the decision to deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24).

What decision have YOU made?

By Judy Shrout