| Yesterday we thought about the election of seven men to oversee the fellowship distribution to widows and others in need. They were all Godly men and filled with the Holy Spirit. There wasn't any doubt about the first one to be elected. It was Stephen. A church can be very thankful when there is a Stephen in the congregation. He must have been an unusual man who not only did what he was elected to do but found time to preach the Gospel and witness fearlessly to others about Christ. From the stories which follow, it is obvious God had greater ministry in mind for at least two of these seven men, Stephen and Philip. We would like to know more of the other five too. We will when we get home to Glory. Stephen tackled one particular group - the Synagogue of Freedmen. But they resisted his preaching and brought him before the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish Council. It was the same Council which had condemned Christ. The last words of our reading are very descriptive - Stephen's face was like that of an angel. Men had just lied about him, but his face showed only life and love and the indwelling of Christ himself. His message covers most of the seventh chapter and ends with his being stoned to death for the sake of Christ. He was the first Christian martyr. But his last words were words of forgiveness. "Lord lay not this sin to their charge." As someone has said, "Persecuted saints are more apt to be pardoning saints, than are prosperous saints." We are told he fell asleep. What a beautiful way to describe such a violent death! Yet it fits the spirit of Stephen and the view of death held by the early church. There was someone else there that day. The suffering Stephen spoke unconsciously to that young man standing nearby, the sneering, cynical Saul. He could never forget that sight. One day he too found the reality of the living Christ and even gave his life for the same Saviour whom Stephen knew and loved | 
沒有留言:
張貼留言