Do most people you know consider you to be relatively good? I think most people think of me in that way. Are there, however, people that do not? I know there are for me. Do you have hope that is unshakeable? I do. Let me tell you about a man who some considered “good” but by others considered bad. This man, however, had unshakeable hope in someone. Let’s find out more.
The person I am writing about is Stephen. Acts 6:5b,8, and 10, “And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, 8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 10But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.” (ESV) I see a man that was considered relatively good to some and bad to others. Let me be clear I use relatively because Jesus said, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” Mark 10:18 (ESV) Since people can only be good in comparison to other people, I believe Stephen falls in this category. I also see by some he was considered evil because of his belief in Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. We can all have this kind of relationship with Jesus. Find out here.
The other thing I see in Stephen is his unwavering hope in Jesus. In Acts 7, Stephen explains to his accusers that his hope was in Jesus Christ alone. He explained it by going back to the Old Testament to show that Jesus was the promised Messiah. This message enraged his accusers. Stephen responded “But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”’ Acts 7:55-56 (ESV) Then, they proceeded to stone him. This is how Stephen was described as he was being stoned. “And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:59-60 (ESV) This is also my hope, and it can be yours as well. My personal wish is that my hope in Jesus Christ might be as great as Stephen’s hope in Jesus.
Join me in comprehending a hope in Jesus that was as great as Stephen’s hope. Having the knowledge that at your death you too will fall asleep in the arms of Jesus. Being confident in the meantime that God gives us all we need. Hope is part of the gifts that God gives you when accept Jesus. Understanding that the hope you have is because of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross satisfying the penalty for my sins and yours as well. It satisfies all my sins from the past, in the present and in the future. My penalty and yours was satisfied on the cross by the death of Jesus, God’s greatest act of love and wrath, who became sin for me and you. It was also God’s greatest act of faithfulness because “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (ESV) Because wisdom shows us, we need to believe in Jesus. I hope that you join me in helping others to choose Jesus.
If you have not read my previous blogs, you can find them here.
You can find my book, Hope Amid Hopelessness: Our Abba Father Provides a Way Through Mental Illness here.
eBook or Audiobook versions can be found at Westbow Press or Christianbook.com at Amazon or Google
