Embodying The Christlike Mission
"And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen." - Acts 6:8-9
This devotion is about the beginning of God's transforming work. From the early days of Acts to this very moment, the Word of God has increased and multiplied. Disciples are being made, and followers are becoming more like Jesus.
We often talk about being Christlike in our character. We want to exemplify godly traits. We want to love without condition, forgive without limit, and welcome without judgment. The unstoppable mission of God is embodied by people who have come face to face with their sin, found rescue by Jesus, and are now living faithfully in a broken world.
The story of Stephen in Scripture gives us a great example to follow. (see Acts 6:8-7:60) As we look at his life, we see that to follow Jesus means walking the exact path He walked.
Accused Like Jesus
To be like Jesus is to be accused like Jesus. Stephen is described as a man full of faith, grace, and power. He was doing great wonders and signs. It makes us wonder how the people closest to us would describe our lives.
Because Stephen was living a faithful life, opposition quickly rose up to dispute him. But they were no match for the Spirit at work within him. So, his opponents secretly conspired against him, spread lies, and accused him of blasphemy. They stirred up a mob. Ironically, what they accused him of was true. He was preaching about Jesus.
This pattern is deeply familiar. We see it in the life of Jesus. He was full of grace and truth, and the religious authorities conspired against Him. If you live and minister like Jesus, you can expect to be accused like Jesus. We do not play by the rules of this world. We play by God's Word.
Aglow With Jesus
To be like Jesus is to be aglow with Jesus. The text tells us that as the council gazed at Stephen, they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
What does this mean? It seems Stephen was experiencing the same phenomenon that others in Scripture experienced after meeting closely with God. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, his face shone. When Jesus prayed on the mountain during the Transfiguration, His face was altered and His clothing became dazzling white.
Stephen was aglow with Jesus. When we meet closely with the Lord, we also glow in less literal ways. You can see it on the faces of believers who have spent time in the presence of God. This glowing presence is what keeps us coming back.
Unapologetic About Jesus
When we are aglow with Jesus, we become unapologetic about Jesus. Stephen responds to his accusers with the longest sermon recorded in the book of Acts.
He preaches an Old Testament survey covering Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, and Solomon. His points are clear. God has been sovereignly active throughout all history. People have repeatedly rejected His activity. Even so, God has been obviously present. And all of this history culminates in Jesus.
To be like Jesus is to make no apology for Him. You must be unashamed and unafraid. You might not face a council like Stephen did, but you might face opposition at your workplace or your family dinner table. Whether you respond with silence, a thoughtful question, or a bold declaration, you must remain unapologetic about the Gospel.
Accepting of Death Like Jesus
Finally, to be like Jesus is to be accepting of death like Jesus. For his bold sermon, Stephen is killed by an enraged mob. Yet, still full of the Holy Spirit, Stephen looks up to heaven and sees Jesus.
His last words perfectly mirror the final words of Jesus on the cross. He asks God to forgive them and commits his spirit to the Lord. A young man named Saul is there watching. This moment sparks a massive persecution that scatters the church, but the unstoppable mission presses forward. The blood of the martyrs truly is the seed of the church.
As Christians, we have been promised eternal life. For as great as this life is, heaven is infinitely better. We do not have to fear death. There are no ultimate bad outcomes for the believer. Stephen's life followed the trajectory of Jesus, and his faithful example challenges us to do the same.
Closing Prayer:
Lord, we thank You for the bold example of Stephen. Give us the courage to follow the true trajectory of Jesus. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that our lives might glow with Your presence. Make us unapologetic about the Gospel and fearless in the face of opposition. Use our lives to push Your unstoppable mission forward. In the matchless name of Jesus, Amen.
This devotion is about the beginning of God's transforming work. From the early days of Acts to this very moment, the Word of God has increased and multiplied. Disciples are being made, and followers are becoming more like Jesus.
We often talk about being Christlike in our character. We want to exemplify godly traits. We want to love without condition, forgive without limit, and welcome without judgment. The unstoppable mission of God is embodied by people who have come face to face with their sin, found rescue by Jesus, and are now living faithfully in a broken world.
The story of Stephen in Scripture gives us a great example to follow. (see Acts 6:8-7:60) As we look at his life, we see that to follow Jesus means walking the exact path He walked.
Accused Like Jesus
To be like Jesus is to be accused like Jesus. Stephen is described as a man full of faith, grace, and power. He was doing great wonders and signs. It makes us wonder how the people closest to us would describe our lives.
Because Stephen was living a faithful life, opposition quickly rose up to dispute him. But they were no match for the Spirit at work within him. So, his opponents secretly conspired against him, spread lies, and accused him of blasphemy. They stirred up a mob. Ironically, what they accused him of was true. He was preaching about Jesus.
This pattern is deeply familiar. We see it in the life of Jesus. He was full of grace and truth, and the religious authorities conspired against Him. If you live and minister like Jesus, you can expect to be accused like Jesus. We do not play by the rules of this world. We play by God's Word.
Aglow With Jesus
To be like Jesus is to be aglow with Jesus. The text tells us that as the council gazed at Stephen, they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
What does this mean? It seems Stephen was experiencing the same phenomenon that others in Scripture experienced after meeting closely with God. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, his face shone. When Jesus prayed on the mountain during the Transfiguration, His face was altered and His clothing became dazzling white.
Stephen was aglow with Jesus. When we meet closely with the Lord, we also glow in less literal ways. You can see it on the faces of believers who have spent time in the presence of God. This glowing presence is what keeps us coming back.
Unapologetic About Jesus
When we are aglow with Jesus, we become unapologetic about Jesus. Stephen responds to his accusers with the longest sermon recorded in the book of Acts.
He preaches an Old Testament survey covering Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, and Solomon. His points are clear. God has been sovereignly active throughout all history. People have repeatedly rejected His activity. Even so, God has been obviously present. And all of this history culminates in Jesus.
To be like Jesus is to make no apology for Him. You must be unashamed and unafraid. You might not face a council like Stephen did, but you might face opposition at your workplace or your family dinner table. Whether you respond with silence, a thoughtful question, or a bold declaration, you must remain unapologetic about the Gospel.
Accepting of Death Like Jesus
Finally, to be like Jesus is to be accepting of death like Jesus. For his bold sermon, Stephen is killed by an enraged mob. Yet, still full of the Holy Spirit, Stephen looks up to heaven and sees Jesus.
His last words perfectly mirror the final words of Jesus on the cross. He asks God to forgive them and commits his spirit to the Lord. A young man named Saul is there watching. This moment sparks a massive persecution that scatters the church, but the unstoppable mission presses forward. The blood of the martyrs truly is the seed of the church.
As Christians, we have been promised eternal life. For as great as this life is, heaven is infinitely better. We do not have to fear death. There are no ultimate bad outcomes for the believer. Stephen's life followed the trajectory of Jesus, and his faithful example challenges us to do the same.
Closing Prayer:
Lord, we thank You for the bold example of Stephen. Give us the courage to follow the true trajectory of Jesus. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that our lives might glow with Your presence. Make us unapologetic about the Gospel and fearless in the face of opposition. Use our lives to push Your unstoppable mission forward. In the matchless name of Jesus, Amen.
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