Day 23

Stephen

from the reading plan

Open Your Bible

Acts 6:1-5, Acts 6:8-15, Acts 7:1-60

By Guest Writer

Scripture Reading: Acts 6:1-5, Acts 6:8-15, Acts 7:1-60

How often have you thought to yourself, “What does it matter if I live for Christ? No one cares.” Or we can mistakenly believe we must lead an extraordinary life to bring glory to God or bring others into the fold of Christ. But our role is never to save anyone. It is simply to partner with the Holy Spirit, trusting He will draw others to Himself, even if we never see the fruit.

In Acts 6, Stephen, along with six other men, was given the task of caring for widows. We do not see him asking for an impressive title or waiting for an official “vocational ministry” role—he simply walked with Jesus and obeyed Him. The religious leaders were sure of their right standing with God, and their hearts were hard toward any mention of the true gospel of Jesus Christ. They believed they were without fault and had no need for a Savior.

But when Stephen stood before the religious leaders, he held fast to one truth: Christ crucified and raised for the redemption of the world. I think we can become paralyzed as we search for the seemingly right words to say to our unbelieving friends, family members, or neighbors. We wonder if we can speak with eloquence or if we have all the answers. Stephen didn’t attempt to convince anyone with lofty words or appease others. Instead, he simply taught the truth. His sole desire was to honor Jesus with his life.

And when Stephen stood before the people, his face shone like that of an angel. A true relationship with God changes us from the inside out. Our lives should be counter cultural, shining a light in the darkness and bringing glory to the only One worthy of all praise and adoration.

Stephen’s unwavering commitment to Christ cost him his life. If we are going to walk with Christ, it will cost us something too. In response to Stephen’s story, I want to consider how pride, comfort, or security affect how I live out my faith. Let’s take a note from Stephen and look to Christ. He will not fail us, friends.

Written by Jessica Mathisen