Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

The day after

Thursday, December 26, 2002

Psalm 31:3-5
3) For you are my rock and my fortress;
Therefore, for your name's sake,
Lead me and guide me.
4) Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me,
For you are my strength.
5) Into your hands I commit my spirit;
You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.

Every year I forget, and then every year I am reminded by the church calendar that the day after Christmas is also the day marked to commemorate Stephen's death as a martyr.

The Bible story in Acts 7 is dramatic. Stephen is raised to prominence in the Jesus-community because of his sacrificial life. The group's enemies, therefore, single him out and condemn him to death by stoning. Before he is killed he delivers a powerful historical speech which stirs ancient memories for both the killers and the Christians of their common ancestors.

As he returns to the present, Stephen looks at his captors and calls them the murderers of Jesus. Suddenly he stops. His eyes become bright, he looks toward the sky and says, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"

That was enough. They dragged Stephen out of the city and began to stone him. The author of this story, Luke, ends with a note that supervising the murder from a short distance away was a man named Saul, principal enemy of the Christians.

Chapters 8 and 9 of Luke's book of Acts grip my mind when I read them. I can't put the book down. After many murders, much death, Saul is tossed off his horse on a lonely strip of highway by a spiritual adversary and is blinded by the bright light of one who calls himself "Jesus."

Saul's name is changed to Paul and he picks up where he left off, but on the other side. The Christians have never had a stronger advocate, and churches spring up everywhere Paul travels. He's thrown into prison, thrown out of town, tortured, starved, left to die. Over and over he survives and discovers the power and safety of God's "rock and fortress." When God is within, nothing without can do him damage.

Stephen was killed, and Saul watched with approval. Jesus did not; but he knew who he wanted on his side, and he got him.

Jesus, look through me with eyes that see everything, as you saw Saul. You know me better than I can ever know myself. You are my strength. Into your hands I commit my spirit.

Devotions Archive

The day after

Thursday, December 26, 2002