In my life I’ve made hard decisions out of obedience only to find more hardship as a result. Maybe you have too. We’re often left to wonder why we would end up in a hard situation after doing what is right.
I faced one of these difficult choices in my late 20s: to continue enjoying a comfortable life and ignore my soon-to-expire visa or to return to a distressing reality. After a lifetime of living abroad, I chose the latter because I knew it honored God. What followed was even harder than I dreaded. I felt abandoned, disappointed, and hurt while I tried to navigate the outcome of my obedience.
Looking back, the experience matured my faith deeply. But I only saw the fruit decades later. At the time, I could not understand why my act of obedience seemed to earn me God’s scorn. I spent many tears and months asking God why He allowed my circumstances to be so harsh. Even in my every day, outcomes are always lurking in the back of my mind. There have also been times when I’ve gone to great lengths to avoid engaging in certain conversations for fear of being misrepresented or rejected because of my faith.
This is how today’s text confronts me: What if there’s a better question to ask than “why?” What if the real question is not about outcomes at all (at least none we can understand in the moment), but about the position of our heart and what God is accomplishing in and through us?
It was Stephen’s wisdom that prompted others to oppose and malign him. Yet the position of Stephen’s heart was aligned with God’s plan. He was part of God’s provision for that community, chosen for this task because of his good standing (1Timothy 3:13). A gift meant to meet a need in the Church became the reason for Stephen’s hardship.
God’s favor didn’t spare Stephen the sufferings of a fallen world. But God’s favor didn’t leave him either, evidenced by the fact “they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking” (Acts 6:10).
The purpose was never Stephen’s safety or comfort. He was an integral part of a bigger situation unfolding—the building of God’s Church. The result was right on schedule: the work of the Holy Spirit on display. Stephen’s undeniable wisdom and his otherworldly physical countenance in front of his opponents revealed God’s power for all to hear and see.
Oh, that we might have eyes to see the deep work of your Spirit, Lord! Holy Spirit, align our hearts to your purposes, that we, too, may boldly display your wisdom, even and especially in the face of opposition. Help us face opposition knowing that we are your Church, and we are held and sustained by the very power that resurrected Christ.
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100 thoughts on "Stephen’s Wisdom"
Amen! ❤️
Amen
This hit home for me. As a child and young adult I prayed for a Godly husband. I thought I had found that, but quickly realized that was not the case. He pretended for awhile, but 10 years into marriage, after my husband had an affair he told me he had always had trouble believing in God. At that point, there was no more pretending. He mocks my children and me if we pray, and tells them they’ll realize none of it’s real, it’s all a show.
How could God let this happen when I earnestly sought his will and saw confirmation after confirmation that this was the man I was led to marry. It is not an easy road, and at times I become weary, but the Lord is my shield and salvation. I believe He has put me in this spot for His glory. I have so much to learn, but continually pray I can be faithful in the waiting.
Praying, Melanie, for your faith to stand strong and for the Lord’s protection on this difficult road. Especially praying for your husband, for a Damascus road moment when the truth of God would become true to him.
Praying w Searching.
Praying for you while going through this and for your husband to come to faith!
Praying for you, Melanie. I truly am. It is a difficult place to be, but you are strong and God is with you.
Melanie,
I too was in a marriage with a husband who professed to be a believer but was not living like one. He was an addict and also had an affair. God taught me so much through this relationship and had me stand by him and gave me compassion for him for a time. Eventually it became an unsafe situation and he left. God’s hand was even in his departure. It was a smooth transition. I sought God’s will early on in our dating and knew he had this man for me. It certainly did not end up the way I would have chosen. Eventually our marriage ended. God has not left me. My relationship with the Lord had come so far since then, that was over 10 yrs ago. I still have the desire to be a wife. I still have hope that God will fulfill this desire in my life. I have Hope because of Him.
I loved this perspective. I wish I could save Paola’s reflection. So good
If you access on their website, you can copy and paste to your device, word, notes, etc.
I screenshotted it!!
I will definitely be using grace day this week. I haven’t done the days’ readings this week AT ALL.
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Prayer request… Hubby (Paul) has his eye surgery tomorrow. Please pray for him and for traveling mercies for us as well. Thank you.
Praying for all to go well- safe travels and successful surgery and recovery. Peace and love to you!❤️
ADRIENNE, I seem to only ever be behind (but primarily missing the comments and then feeling a bit disconnected) the last few months!!
More importantly, I am praying for you, for hubby, for travels and generally a hedge around you ❤️
After reading the scriptures (and not yet the devotion), what stood out to me are the personal qualifications for a deacon in the church. Our previous church suffered a harsh split. Now that I think about it, it’s the divine separation between the sheep and the goat, so it’s not a split by men, but by God, which has to do with these qualifications that they failed to adhere to. There are clear and objective qualifications for deacons, pastors, elders. Leadership requires a lot of maturity in character. Character outweighs gifting, formal degrees, public personality. Key qualifications: worthy of respect, not double tongued, not addicted to drinking, not greedy, hold the mystery of faith, tested first through trials and proven blameless, husband of one wife (faithful in marriage), manage household and children well. A godly character is the foundation. Why do Scriptures mention their home? The home is the proving ground for the church. Failure in private disqualifies public ministry. The Bible treats character failure as disqualifying. I won’t forget Saul’s case, the first king. The Lord removed Saul when he violated the sacrifice and spared Agag. The Lord also rejected Eli the priest for failure to restrain his sons. Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu offered “strange fire” and was judged immediately. Judas , though chosen as a disciple, had a character failure, corrupted with money and betrayal, “let another take his office” (Acts 1:20). Ananias and Sapphira’s hypocrisy and financial deception in the early church (we just learned), they were not tolerated. These people were cut off and removed. They were out. God is to be feared. We need to take this seriously. His rules are to be respected especially by those who are serving, overseeing in the church. God’s calling is very conditional on character. It is a hard calling. The gifting of a person does not override one’s holiness. God prioritizes His Holy Name over the leader’s career. What are our modern day expectations vs Biblical standards? Modern day church culture tends to avoid controversy, moral failure is often addressed privately or delayed or ignored, try to maintain public favor at all cost, protect institutional reputation, manage to promote personal “brand”, and forgiveness often means reinstatement of roles/positions (I see this all the time). There are a lot of to unpack and ponder from bible examples. God’s forgiveness does not mean reinstatement to leadership or position. God judged Eli for not restraining his sons who- as priests-committed sexual sins, stole and embezzled, and God said “I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew” (1 Samuel 3:13). Eli’s passive tolerance made him involved in the corruption of his children, their priestly line was removed. King Saul was removed not because of his incompetence, but because of his pride, rebellion and the fear of man. God asked for young David immediately as the chosen successor, and Saul pursued David relentlessly to kill him as the result of wounded pride and jealousy. Saul did not take God’s rejection well, can you tell? The fear of losing power is so great for some people, even much greater than the fear of losing righteousness and holiness. This is dangerous. This is God’s people, this is His church. God is not wrong when He diagnoses, “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Roman 3:10). What’s the remedy? Self-examination and daily repentance “First take the log out of your own eye” (Matthew 7:5). Depend on His grace yall, all day long please, what do we have to brag but our self righteous rags? The most dangerous posture is seeing sin and flaws everywhere EXCEPT in ourselves. May we receive God’s remedy for humankind: a new heart (by asking God to fulfil this offering, “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you” Ezekiel 36:26), a new mind (takes our intentional learning and commitment). Also we need to set correct expectations for people. When we realize how wicked a human heart is, Scriptures call us to “guard your heart”, trust in God and not idolize human shepherds (“Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD” Jeremiah 17:5), or to trust in human leadership (“Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish” Psalm 146:3-4), to wisely adjust relationship expectations even inside ministry (follow Jesus’ example here, “But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people” John 2:24), to have humility (these failures include us, this condition is universal to all man). A lot to ponder. Praise to the Holy Spirit for these meaningful promptings today. All glory and praise be to God. May the grace of God be with you all. Be blessed dear sisters.
No words, Mercy. What an outstanding share.
This is great insight and thoughts, Mercy. ❤️
Agreeing with Searching and Wendy! ❤
There is pain when God is pruning and cutting back. instead of asking why— shifting to a what — what are you trying to show me God. Or I know he is equipping us with experiences to better serve his kingdom and to grow our dependence on him.
Amen 100%. I heard a teacher said once that pain is God speaking to us through a Megaphone.
Yes, just read that again today…I think C.S. Lewis said that!
Stephen’s faith, humility, courage, boldness is such a challenge and example, his life is inspiring. Interesting tidbit in my study Bible notes that the Greek word for witness is actually martys (which means witnessing to the point of death and is derived from and translates to martyr). That is a sobering thought as we much more casually use the word witness but do not attach the actual truth and weight of that word to it. What if I (we)truly did? Yes, we know there is bound to be opposition to testifying and proclaiming the Gospel, wo witnessing, but in all honesty I do not think about it being a risk to my life. Something I’m thinking on today and also, this too, is my prayer….
“Oh, that we might have eyes to see the deep work of your Spirit, Lord! Holy Spirit, align our hearts to your purposes, that we, too, may boldly display your wisdom, even and especially in the face of opposition. Help us face opposition knowing that we are your Church, and we are held and sustained by the very power that resurrected Christ.”
Good stuff as usual! ❤
Amen to your prayer.
I’ve always felt, just because I love Jesus and I know, HE LOVES ME doesn’t save me from the hardships of this world. I’m sure most of not all of us had had some very hard times to the point of not being able to breathe and actually feel physical pain. BUT God… Our sweet Jesus made us a promise and I believe in that promise that HE will be with me (YOU) always, just like he was with Stephen. I can relate to what Paola said: “God’s favor didn’t spare Stephen the sufferings of a fallen world. But God’s favor didn’t leave him either…” God is good even during the hard times!
“God is good even during the hard times!” amen, Mari, and that statement has so much more weight when it comes from those who have actually lived throught ‘hard times’ like you mentioned. ❤
Amen. God’s favor didn’t spare Stephen the sufferings, nor spare any of the 12 disciples, nor Charlie Kirk and his family of the persecutions. God loves them all so much. It’s a wicked world, and He is the loving God. Yesterday we even read after prison and being released the disciples counted their suffering as an honor to bear for His Name. That is such strength we need to mirror.
Amen❤️
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Amen and amen to all your responses! Stephan a man full of faith, he was full of the Holy Spirit to be a witness and oh, how he witnessed….Stephan, oh, that my heart posture would be as his, confident to speak the mystery of the gospel and not to be concerned how people will respond but to trust God whether persecuted or received.
Thank you Paola. I will make this my prayer today:
“Oh, that we might have eyes to see the deep work of your Spirit, Lord! Holy Spirit, align our hearts to your purposes, that we, too, may boldly display your wisdom, even and especially in the face of opposition. Help us face opposition knowing that we are your Church, and we are held and sustained by the very power that resurrected Christ.”
Amen
Amen! ❤️
Amen to everyone’s comments! This selection of scripture always challenges me! Am I spending enough time with the Lord that I reflect His radiance? Am I FULL of the Holy Spirit and full of wisdom and grace? I turn these questions into prayers and surrender all of me to God! It’s about surrender and not about my comfort. I’m pretty sure that self care was not something Stephen thought about.
This is such a true and often under stressed message today- that obedience isn’t easy! Following God’s will doesn’t make everything fall into place and make all things work fabulous. No, it usually brings lots of hard trials, tears of frustration, and asking why over and over. But God- His plan is always working just so. And yes, we often don’t see it at the time, later on it will often make sense.
We are so used to success with God in the stories, it’s a shock that Stephen gets stoned after proclaiming Jesus. But God’s word IS offensive, and WE need to understand that. Truth goes against the sin of the world. The two will clash. I usually RUN when this happens. But as a defender of the faith, I can’t. Lord strengthen us to do the work you have called us to do!!
Yes, LORD, you have given us the Holy Spirit to indwell in us, give us ears and eyes to know and trust the work He is doing through us and in us, we pray in Jesus’s name.
You can do it Rhonda! You can run toward the opposite direction. Don’t run away. Remain, listen, address, perhaps confront misunderstandings if you’re up for it. It is character building in difficult conversations. Maybe a new year challenge? LOL. You did this at the doctor’s office. See! You can totally do this.
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Stephen was a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 6:5) A man full of God’s grace and power. (vs 8) Members of the Synagogue could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him. (vs 10)
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We can read these verses and think wow! What a faith, what a godly man!…I think what we often forget, at least I do anyway – is that we have the same Holy Spirit and access to the same power and wisdom that Stephen had. Our power doesn’t come from within ourselves, our strength comes from the Lord. Our wisdom is not of this world, it is of God.
When we forget these truths we fail, we mess up, we get discouraged.
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I want to be “known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom”, but it can only happen by spending daily time in the word and prayer and yielding to the Spirit – not to the flesh.
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Lord, that I may grow more and more in you each day, that is my prayer.
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Blessings to you all today.
❤ well said, Sharon!
Amen!
Yes Amen Sharon. So true! How often do you we forget this truth?
A little background from NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible:
“The church included two distinct groups based on the language they spoke. The Hebrews were native, Aramaic-speaking Jewish Christians, and the Hellenists were Greek-speaking Jewish Christians. It was not uncommon for Jews who had lived outside of Jerusalem to retire there. Thus, a large number of Hellenist widows would not have been unusual. The complaint seems to have been particularly sensitive and likely came from two issues. First, there was an obvious language barrier. Second, the Hebraic Jews native to Jerusalem would easily have been able to access existing networks. The Hellenists might not have had such easy access.”
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From NIV APPLICATION BIBLE
“Questions for Growth: Ac 6:1
Who are those being overlooked in our faith community? How can we minister to them?”
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Acts 6:8-10 Luke mentions these characteristics of Stephen (also from NIV APPLICATION BIBLE)
[… Luke mentions six features of his character and ministry in vv. 5–10.
(1) He was “a man full of faith” (v. 5). Stephen saw certain implications in what the Bible taught and what Christ did, and he was willing to risk everything for the truth of those implications.
(2) He was “full . . . of the Holy Spirit” (v. 5). This feature manifested itself as he did “great wonders and signs among the people” (v. 8).
(3) He was “a man full of God’s grace” (v. 8). Stephen had let God’s grace impact him so much that it made him a gracious person. Stephen was able to act in a Christlike way under provocation.
(4) The opponents who debated Stephen were “members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen” (v. 9). The most important town in Cilicia was Tarsus, Paul’s hometown. Did Paul (Saul) worship in this synagogue? We cannot be sure, but we know that he was involved in Stephen’s death (7:58).
The last two features of Stephen’s character relate to his preaching: “They could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke” (v. 10). We see this wisdom in Stephen’s speech, applying Scripture skillfully to the challenges arising from the gospel. Stephen speaks in a way that cuts to the heart of their thinking, and his opponents cannot answer him.©] * Brackets used due to many quotes within the text- too many to change. ☺
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Once again there is so much in these few verses! May we be true to our calling the way Stephen was. As Paola mentioned, what happens in our lives is not about our comfort in the here and now; it’s about God’s glory and plan.
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On He Reads Truth Nick said it like this:
“When God calls us to bear witness to the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of a dark and perishing world, we do not need to fear what men will do to us. They may falsely accuse us. They may put us on trial, as they did to so many of the godly men and women who went before us. They may put us to death, as they would do to Stephen. However, we can be confident that God will give us the wisdom and the Spirit to bear witness to Christ. He will sustain us to the end—even as He imparts His glory to us. Written by Nick Batzig”
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An old hymn came to mind-
SONG SHARE: We Are One in the Bond of Love
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
Cee Gee- thank you for sharing this! So good!
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Thank you for this! ❤️
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Thank you for sharing CEE GEE. Loved what HRT said ❤️❤️❤️.
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John 16:33 “In this world you will have trouble.But take heart! I have overcome the world.
I have never used this verse to win souls.
Jesus was in the perfect will of God; doing what He was suppose to be doing and He waswhere He was suppose to be! He was a suffering servant!
Jesus did ask, “Is a servant greater than his master?
I see so parallels between Stephen and Jesus.
Jesus’s ministry and Stephen’s ministry provoked fierce antagonism from the religious establishment.
Jesus was wisdom in human form and Stephen was full of the wisdom of God given to him because he was full of God’s spirit. The religious establishment could not stand against this godly wisdom. They brought in false witnesses to accuse them both.
Jesus fed people spritual food and on a few occasions he served 5,000 physical food. Stephen was chosen to be part of a food distribution program.
The NIV Application Commentary:” The ministry of Stephen helped blaze new trails for the gospel. He opened the door theologically for the world mission of the church. We do not know whether he realized this,but he freed the Christian faith from the temple and Judaism. A short time later the church concluded that one does not have to be Jewish first in order to be Christian.
Though Stephen ended his life an apparent failure,though he did not live to see the fruit of his theologian God revealed his ministry had born great fruit. … Stephen is also considered the precursor of the later Christian apologists, especially those who defended the faith against Judaism.” “
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Oh Paola thank you for your words in this devotional and especially the challenge of the last paragraph. It is so easy in the hardships and storms to lose sight of the One who is in control and is working His plan albeit in painful ways, but as you said the maturing faith that comes with it in my experience so worth it. I join with you the encouragement and challenge in that last paragraph that we may see the “deep work” of the Holy Spirit. May we boldly shine the light of God no matter the circumstances so that others may see and know.
Yes, the last paragraph was spot on! ❤
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BG verses today 2 Corinthians 5:19-20
V 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
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Hymn that popped into my mind this morning, Stand Up For Jesus, George Duffield, 1858.
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What a hold satan had on these elders, scribes and councilmen.
“And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.”
Yet instead of believing truth he spoke, they bribed others to join their lying and scheming against Stephen.
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“And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.”
Was not even one heart and mind touched as they “looked steadfastly” at Stephen?
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Lord, may we discern truth from lies in the hearing and sharing of Your Word.
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LISA H – praying for Andrew, his family and medical team
MELANI FRYER – praying for your friend M in her pain and grief. Praying she feels the Lord as He comforts and guides her daily on this difficult journey as she does what needs to be done in the days ahead.
CEE GEE “the strain of sin” – thank you.
EILEEN DOWD – praying for complete healing!
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Continuing to pray for healing of mental health challenges, especially in the youth around us. Praying they would come to know Jesus, that the Lord would heal them and walk with them every minute of each day towards the hope He brings.
I join you in this prayer this morning, Searching – Amen
Agree so much and join you in praying for youth in the world. Middle school at my granddaughters’ school seems to be quite cruel, to the point a principal told a parent “this class is so mean to each other, and we aren’t sure just what to do”. While so much can be inferred about that, I am trying to keep my judgmental tendencies locked away but keep praying for a miracle in that school.
Amen
Praying with you Searching
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, yet soldiers of the cross..lift high your royal banners…! I started singing as you said the song!! Oh what a favorite in my church growing up!! I LOVE hymns!
Great observations! Joining you in that prayer! ❤❤❤
Praying for all the requests
This is the same council who were not moved when Jesus Himself stood before them with all the evidence of miracles. Only God can break through hard hearts. Only God can use these “impossible“ situations to accomplish His purposes.
This is the exact opposite of what we are often taught in the “first world.” We are taught to pursue happiness, seek a comfortable life for our families, and live for the moment. God tells us to seek His plans, pursue God’s will for our families, and live as if we are preparing for eternity. Church, we like Stephen, need to be radically different from the world around us. I pray God will open our eyes to His plan for our lives. I pray we seek that plan despite worldly hardship, knowing there is eternal reward for our faithfulness. Have a wonderful day She’s!
Amen Meagan! (heart)
Amen! ❤️
❤ Amen!
I can have a hard time being obedient for what I would consider the “easier things” compared to what Stephen and the others were facing. I can have a hard time being forgiving, non-judgmental, non-trusting. But to be faced with prosecution and death, I think I would run the other way. And when I am obedient and it doesn’t work out like I thought, I whine, complain and question. I got a clear sign from God that my daughter should go to NYU – that He had opened that door for her. She left with me full of faith that she was where God put her. And then week one the panic attacks started, the constant texts and phone calls with her breaking down, for months and months. It got really bad and I thought we were going to have to take her out of school. I remember crying, screaming, but God “You confirmed this is where You wanted her? Why this? Why her? Did I hear wrong?” I learned to stop asking “why” and just open my hands in surrender, asking God to teach me what he wanted me to learn in that season, her too. I look back now and see how much we both have grown. She’s now in her Junior year, is living with a friend in an apt in NYC, and learning how to “adult”. She still struggles at times, but she’s not where she once was and neither am I. I learned a lot about trust and surrender – it’s a daily choice. (not always an easy one though…)
Oh the act of surrender Tami. I’m happy to hear the fruits you are seeing from your surrendering. I remember your prayer requests for your daughter. I’m happy to hear of her growth
Oh wow..I had forgot to NYC!! THAT would scare me to death..! I remember praying though for her and you…God has purpose in the struggles for sure!!
Praise God for how He has worked out His plan! I have been praying for your daughter (and you!) from the very beginning. What a blessing to see how far He has brought her — and now she is a junior!…I am blessed to be a part of her journey through prayer! ❤️
Ditto the comments here! Growing pains are not fun in the moment, but what joy in looking back and seeing how far you both have come. Yes, blessed to be on that prayer team from the beginning! ❤
Yes you ladies were like a life line. It was hard to talk about to others around me because everyone had opinions on “what” we should be doing. Your prayers sustained me:) Thank you!
Praying for more strength and resilience over Chela and you. Praise God for the incredible progress. Clappy clap.
Just curious, “So the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith” (vs 7), how did the priests walk their new faith out? Would they still have participated in offering sacrifices? All other priestly duties of the temple probably continued to be acts of worship they could embrace. But Christ’s sacrifice negated the need for any other to be offered, so what did they do?
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Back to Stephen…
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The glory shining on Stephen’s face should have given his accusers pause, but no, they were blinded by their anger and pride. This brings to mind many stories I’ve heard of modern believers suffering persecution today. God is faithful to strengthen them in the midst of the trials. May we trust Him to sustain us as well.
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Please pray for my mom, Shes. The life insurance company is giving her hassles about the paperwork she filed after my stepfather’s death. She is not handling it well. Would you pray that when she calls today she will not have a long time on hold, she would speak with someone who get to the bottom of the “lost” death certificate and assure her the funds will be sent asap? She really just wants to be done with the “business” of his death. Thank you.
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LISA H – continued prayers for Andrew.
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MELANI FRYER – so sorry for your friend’s tragic loss of her husband. Praying that M would experience God’s comforting presence.
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EILEEN DOWD – praying for your full recovery from pneumonia.
Praying for your mom and resolution of the paperwork. Many times customer service representatives are lacking in knowledge and patience – Is there someone who could connect with her on a 3-way call to help her navigate the problems?
Praying for your mom, Kelly. Praying she gets connected to the right person who can finish and process the paperwork. It must be so hard to be grieving and dealing with all this.
All the technical stuff and paperwork when someone passes can be so tedious and daunting – especially for the loved one who has to deal with it all. It’s so not right that they have so much “red tape” that causes even more heart ache.
I have been and will continue praying for your mom. ❤️
Another great dig ahead since you teased my curiosity! ❤
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Praying that your mom has a compassionate associate on the line today and each time she had these calls! I pray for her sake and yours that this is all wrapped up soon! ❤
Praying for your mom! The business of death is overwhelming. Those early days are for sure. It will be two years on March 6th since I lost my husband, and I’m still wading in those waters, although it is now ankle deep and not neck deep.
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Praying for your mom (and you as you try to help her) as she wades through these turbulent waters of handling paperwork since the loss of her husband. I certainly know firsthand all about it. It’s so sad that your heart is breaking and you don’t get any time to grieve because you have to take care of all the “business stuff.” Praying God’s comfort, peace, and strength during these hard times.
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oh…the weight and stress of administrative details in a loved ones passing is so difficult :( Praying
Shared Themes Across the Passages
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God’s presence transforms people (Moses’ face, Stephen’s face).
Leadership begins with character and spiritual depth, not talent alone.
Service is sacred—whether preaching, caring for widows, or administrative work.
Faithfulness often invites opposition, but God’s glory is revealed through it.
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Lord God,
Thank You for calling us to serve You with faithful hearts.
Shape our character more than our position,
and fill us with Your Spirit in all that we do.
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As Moses reflected Your glory and Stephen stood with courage,
let time spent with You change us from the inside out.
Help us serve others with wisdom, humility, and love,
even when obedience is difficult or misunderstood.
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May our lives quietly reflect Your presence
and bring unity, grace, and truth to those around us.
We offer ourselves to You again today.
Amen.
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Thanks, Kimberly, for the themes. That gets right to the point
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This portion of the reading really hit me today .
“This is how today’s Text confronts me: What if there’s s a better question to ask than “why?” What if the real question is not about outcomes at all (at least none we can understand in the moment), but about the position of our heart and what God is accomplishing in and through us?”
When I read this, I began to wonder if I was where I Should be according to God’s s plan. Is there something else I should be doing. Then I heard God whisper to me His Confirmation. “You are where I want you, waiting for another child. Then He reminded me of my ministry at church with the 2-5 year olds on Wednesday nights.
For those of you who may not know, I recently became a licensed foster parent and have had one placement, and I am awaiting another.
I have to admit that sometimes I wonder if I’m really in the center of his plan when I’m just doing the one day day day life. But then, I am occasionally reminded.P, like I was with today’s reading, it’s about my heart and attitude, not necessarily always about what I am doing, but how am I doing it?
Michelle bless you for being a foster mother! From hearing that alone, it would seem you are in the center of God’s will for you. Matthew 18:5 (NLT):
“Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.”
We are foster parents too and have had 3 children come through our home. Each has broken off their own piece of my heart so talk about flexing faith muscles! Lots of crying out and asking “why?” with lots of reminders to surrender to God. Definitely the toughest, most important job I’ve ever tried to do.
And remember Michelle that Paul said in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 that we all have different gifts and we use those gifts of serving, faith, teaching, leading as part of the whole body. God bless you and others who use their gifts to help foster children!
Yes, bless you for serving in this much needed area, Michelle! Sometimes God uses that ‘lag time’ to build our strength- if we will allow Him or quite possibly He has a specific child in sight who will need you and He is keeping that slot open for that one. ☺❤
Prayers of encouragement for you Michelle. What a blessing for you and for these little ones that come under your care. God bless you for opening your heart and home to them. ❤️
“…but about the position of our heart and what God is accomplishing in and through us?” also stood out to me.
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Prayers for your encouragement.
Amen. I love that the text tells us Stephen was full of grace; as it draws us back to John 1 that Jesus was full of grace [and truth]. Stephen was full of Jesus. Lord, may I be full of You!
Amen! ❤❤❤
And this is the hard part of obedience, isn’t it Ladies? When we know the outcome is likely to be hardship, rejection or even danger?
God give us wisdom and Your Holy Spirit to have Stephen’s courage!!
Amen! ❤❤❤