When people speak the truth in a hostile world there can be a price to pay.
In today’s scripture excerpt, Stephen,
“…a man full of faith” (Acts 6:5)
was selected by the growing church in Jerusalem to speak out against
the popular religious and political leaders in authority.
Despite his detailed, impassioned, articulate and truthful exposition
of God’s Word, as today’s verse sadly records,
they closed their minds or hearts to the truth of God’s Word
and instead responded by attacking him with angry screams
and publicly killing him in front of the city.
Stephen was the first Christian MARTYR,
but this word is not defined just by someone subjected to
criticisim, persecution, or even death.
In the original language 'martyr' means
'to be a legal witness to something or someone that is true.'
Interestingly enough the end result of martyrdom
- just as with Stephen and the early church -
instead was to greatly MULTIPLY the truth of the Gospel and
cause the eventual world-wide spread of Christ’s church
to the entire world!
Friend, the price of martyrdom always becomes the spring of revival.
While we can mourn the suffering of Stephen and many others like
him over the last 2,000 years until TODAY, we can thank all
that have paid the ultimate price for their faith
to continue opening the way of the Kingdom of God to the world.
As believers, God has called us to “be his witness
unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.”
Acts 22:15
God Bless Your Day
Jesus Loves You
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