Reading in Acts today touched me.
https://goingtojesus.com/gtj_translation.html?tname=acts
I want to be like Stephen. His mind was fixed on Jesus no matter what was happening to him. I once saw a scene in a movie of a young woman being stoned, and it was horrific. I had to turn it off after just a few stones were thrown. I can’t imagine what it would truly be like. But Stephen — being pummeled with rocks and still keeping his eyes on Jesus — that touches my heart. He even prayed for the people throwing the stones! To be so full of God that all he could see was God.
It made me think of the dream I had recently where the whole point was to look past the storm and look for Jesus.
I want to be like Stephen.
And I really like what Wendy said. It stirred my heart to think that the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection and did not want Jesus’ blood to be blamed on them, saw the signs that maybe they were wrong. Maybe this man was from God. It must have terrified them. But instead of humbling down and crying out, what did their hearts do? It really left me praying for a pure heart. Whew.
51.O you stiff-necked men, and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the holy Spirit! As your fathers did, you do also.
52.Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers –
53.you who received the law by the disposition of angels, but have not kept it!”
¶54. And when they heard these things, they were cut to their hearts and began gnashing their teeth at him.
- But he, full of holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
And I love what you said about Jesus standing up for Stephen.
Love,
Beth