Daily Reading: Acts 6
And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. (Acts 6.15)
Devotional Thought: I have been told before that I can’t hide my feelings. My face and especially my eyes give them away. That doesn't always work out good for me.
Stephen found that out. His face revealed his feelings. He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t afraid. He wasn’t offended. No, there was a heavenly serenity about him, and I believe a bold confidence. His face was like the face of an angel, and angels are not easily frightened creatures. They have seen the face of God and know that they were on the right side, the winning side, the eternal side. I believe that is what Stephen’s face conveyed.
You can have the same confidence and calm that Stephen had. In the face of opposition and persecution, you can be a shining testimony to love and light. How? Look back at the description of Stephen earlier in this chapter. He was a full man... full of "the Spirit and of wisdom" (v. 3), "faith and of the Holy Spirit" (v. 5), "grace and power" (v. 8). When we are full of ourselves, we get defensive and angry. When we are full of God, we reflect him!
Look ahead to the end of chapter seven, as Stephen’s death sentence was carried out. Once again we see that Stephen was a full man: "He, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God" (7.55). As he breathed his last, he prayed a prayer of forgiveness for his executioners.
When the pressure is on, when life's not fair, what comes out on your face? Whatever you are full of will become obvious. Be filled with God!
Prayer: Lord, help me to spend time with you - in your Word, in prayer, in worship, and in service. Then, may it be my honor to shine like an angel of God, proclaiming your praises! Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 70:1-5
1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!
2 Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!
3 Let them turn back because of their shame who say, "Aha, Aha!"
4 May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, "God is great!"
5 But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!
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