“Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8) When he was brought before the Sanhedrin to be silenced and threatened, “Stephen’s face was like the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15).
Not being able to silence him, they stoned him, but “Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55–56)
Lord Jesus, these scenes from Stephen’s life grab, humble, and encourage my heart this morning. Before Stephen saw you standing at the Father’s right hand during the greatest trial in life, he knew you to be his most wonderful, merciful, beautiful Savior. His face was “like the face of an angel” because of his relationship with you. The more time Stephen spent with you, the more beautiful you became to him, Jesus, and the more of your beauty was revealed through him.
This same promise is held out to each of us. As Paul wrote to believers in Corinth, “as we contemplate your glory, we are transformed into your image with ever-increasing glory. This is what the Holy Spirit does in our lives” (2Cor.3:18). We will serve you publicly without fear when we adore you privately with awe and love.
Jesus… this is what we want and need more than anything else—to know you as Stephen knew you—to contemplate your glory, gaze upon your beauty—to be saturated with your greatness and transformed by your grace. Lord, renew, refresh, refuel and refire our hearts for you. Jesus, once again be our greatest treasure—our everything. So Very Amen.
