Stephen

I've been reading about Stephen in the book of Acts these past couple of days.  He is typically referred to as "Stephen the Martyr".  Stephen was an awesome man that God used to impact a lot of people.  We first meet Stephen in Acts 6. He was one of the 7 that was chosen to look after the needs of the neglected.  Acts 6:3 says that he was of "good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom...".  His life was consistent with his confession of faith (good reputation).  He knew the will of God and lived it out.  How did he know the will of God?  He studied the Scriptures.  Which is evident in the address that he made to the Sanhedrin.

Stephen was also a man after God's own heart.  He shared with everybody about Christ and was a powerful witness (6:8).  He knew that whatever he could have planned and done with his own life was nothing compared to what God had planned.  He was "sold-out" for Christ.  All the way to the very end.  Facing the Sanhedrin, he must have had some sort of idea that they were going to kill him.  Maybe not though.  He wasn't scared (or at least the Scriptures never tell us) but that is because he was being empowered by the Holy Spirit.

My point is that we should not use Stephen as an example of how to die for Christ.  But rather how to LIVE for Christ.  He was only able to stand strong to the very end because of the relationship that he had with Jesus.  He was strong in his faith.  He knew the Truth because he studied it and applied to his life.  He listened to God over anybody else.  I respect those that have died for Christ and pray that I am as strong as they were when faced with death.  But I know that the only way that I am going to be that strong is in how strong my relationship is with Christ.  If I turn away in the hard times, then guaranteed I will turn away when it really counts.  I want to be one that God says "well done my good and faithful servant."  But not because of how I died but for how I lived my life for God.