While I'm Thinking About It

Stephen’s story, recorded in Acts 7, draws my attention like a poltice drawing an infection. It evidently had that impact on Saul of Tarsus as well. As you likely recall, Saul is introduced to us in this event of lies, deception and murder. Unlike others cast into the fatal role, Stephen apparently never pled for his life or railed against his accusers and their unjust charges. He simply pled for forgiveness for the evil men and revelled in the vision of Jesus, standing at the throne of heaven, honoring his death. We are given no reason to suspect that Stephen knew why God had chosen his fatal path, nor that God had whispered comfort into his ear to help him through the ordeal. The image we are left with is one of faithful determination to walk beneath the “cross” he had been assigned, ever giving glory and honor to God. Saul, later known to us as the Apostle Paul, could not get that image out of his mind either. He referenced it while giving his testimony years later: “And when the bl

We are easily drawn by the opinions and praises of others. So influenced are we, that we are often pulled to the same likes and dislikes, as well as the same behaviors as others so that we will not seem to be "out-of-step" with the conventional wisdom of the day. At first glance it is a small thing, but it is an anchor that often drowns its victims. Jesus encouraged his disenfranchised listeners (Matthew 5-7) to not be swayed by the pressures of the religious mob actions around them. He told them: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:10-12). So short-sighted is the vision of the momentary mob that a look back from years in the future easily reveals the ridiculous. While not th