Stephen knew His identity was in Christ. He endured the lies and accusations to stand firm in His commitment to Christ. In this world, we will have people question our faith and even the reality of God and Christ. No matter what we read on the internet, television, or any form of media. No matter what we are taught in school or what our friends may say, our identity is found in Christ, not in this world. (До Галатів 3:26 ) says, “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” We are God’s children! There is no doubt about it. It would be wise to hide this verse in our hearts and repeat it to ourselves every day. Jesus said in (Від Іоана 15:19 ), “The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.” We are in this world but not of it. Our identity does not come from what we do or who other people say we are. We must be prepared for rejection and insults. If Jesus faced these things, so will we. “He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him.” (Від Іоана 1:11-12 ). It is our choice to believe what God says or what the world may say. We are God’s children and nothing we do, or face can change that. “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?” (До Римлян 8:35 ).

What were Steven’s last words as he was being stoned and moments from death? Did He pray for God to judge his enemies and destroy them? (Діяння Апостолів 7:59-60 ) says, “As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.” Stephen asked God to forgive those who had lied about Him and angrily dragged him through the streets to stone him outside the city. The only way Stephen could have done this is because He was filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. The love of God flowed out of Him instead of hatred and revenge. Stephen was following Jesus’ example. Jesus prayed for His enemies on the cross as He died. (Від Луки 23:34 ). In (Від Матвія 5:44 ), Jesus said, “Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!" Jesus taught us by example while He was on the earth. When we choose to follow Christ, we do not get to pick and choose what teachings we will follow. To love and pray for our enemies is one of the hardest things He asks us to do. Like Stephen, we can only do this by being filled with the Holy Spirit and displaying the love of God which He produces in us. It is not humanly possible in our own strength. We are more apt to strike back like Peter did in the Garden instead of following Jesus’ example. Jesus said, "But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.” (Від Луки 6:27 ). We must be willing to not only listen, but to humble ourselves and allow God’s love mercy, and forgiveness to flow through us.

Jesus chose to endure persecution, suffering and even death for us. He did not have to; He chose to because of His love for us. (До Филип’ян 2:6-8 ) says, “Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” Jesus struggled in the garden right before His arrest, knowing what He would face on the cross. He asked God if there was any other way, but if not, He was willing to submit to His will. “He went on a little farther and bowed with His face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.” (Від Матвія 26:39 ). He was victorious in this struggle even as His closest friends who He brought to support Him—slept. (Від Матвія 26:36-39 ). Peter tried to defend Jesus against the mob who came to arrest Jesus and even cut a man’s ear off! Jesus healed the man and responded, “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. Don’t you realize that I could ask My Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and He would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?” (Від Матвія 26:52-54 ). Imagine having all the power of God available to you and instead choosing to go through the pain, suffering and death required by God’s plan to save the world. That is love unspeakable! (До Тита 2:14 ) says, “He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.” Jesus humbled Himself to save us. May we choose to live humbly and stand for Him as we endure whatever trials and opposition we may face.

Stephen stood before his angry accusers. Instead of looking at their faces and listening to their lies, he stared into heaven. There, he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (Діяння Апостолів 6 Діяння Апостолів 7 ). What an example Stephen left us in times of opposition, persecution or hardship! Do not focus on what others are saying, or the circumstance; fill your mind with the things of God; things that build your faith and strength. Get a fresh glimpse of Jesus to reinforce your faith! The apostle Paul was no stranger to opposition, hardship and persecution. Listen to what he told us to do: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all he Has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” (До Филип’ян 4:6-9 ). It is interesting to note that this is the same man (Saul) who stood in approval as Stephen was stoned. Saul became Paul and now faced his own persecution for preaching the Gospel of Christ. Like Stephen, Paul didn’t just preach, he left us an example—do as I do! Paul experienced peace and strength as he stood for Christ… even while suffering in prison! He too encouraged us to focus on the things of God, not our surroundings. In (Друге Послання до Коринтян 12:10 ), Paul said, “That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” How can we receive peace and strength in times of persecution and hardship? The answer is to focus on Christ. Even as the stones struck Stephen, he was at peace as he gazed at His Lord and Savior; Jesus Christ. Jesus said in (Від Матвія 5:11 ): “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.” Most often God’s blessings are thought of only in terms of wealth and earthly possessions for believers. However, Stephen and believers like Paul challenge us to think of blessings in terms of strength and peace which enable us to endure and stand for God!

Stephen faced the Jewish council and listened to the witnesses’ false accusations against him. The council then began to stare at him because his face had become as bright as an angel’s. (Діяння Апостолів 6:13-15 ). Why was Stephen’s face shining? Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit and God’s favor. God’s anointing was upon him. This isn't the only instance of a shining face in the Bible. In the Old Testament, Moses’ face shined after he spent 40 days on the mountain with God while receiving the Ten Commandment tablets. (Вихід 34:29-35 ) says, “When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the LORD. So when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses’ face, they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called out to them and asked Aaron and all the leaders of the community to come over, and he talked with them. Then all the people of Israel approached him, and Moses gave them all the instructions the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai. When Moses finished speaking with them, he covered his face with a veil. But whenever he went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he would remove the veil until he came out again. Then he would give the people whatever instructions the LORD had given him, and the people of Israel would see the radiant glow of his face. So he would put the veil over his face until he returned to speak with the LORD.” It is evident that Moses' face shined because of his intimate communion and relationship with God. God’s presence and anointing was strong upon Moses. It could very well be that Stephen’s face shined because of his intimacy with God as well. Even as he was being falsely accused, persecuted, and even stoned, Stephen was in intimate communion with God. When Jesus was on the mountain with Peter, James and John, He was transformed. (Від Матвія 17:2-3 ), and (Від Матвія 5 Від Матвія 6 ) says, “As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. A bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My dearly loved Son, who brings Me great joy. Listen to him.” The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.” Jesus’ face shone like the sun. We know that at this time, Jesus was full of the Spirit and was in communion with God. So, if we pray and spend time with Jesus, will our faces shine so we must cover it with a veil? Most likely not; however, we do have Jesus’ light in us, and He wants us to let it shine so all can see. This He calls us to do, even in difficult circumstances, as we read with Stephen. (До Филип’ян 2:15 ) says, “So that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” What is the purpose of letting our light shine; is it to call attention to our good deeds and bring us praise? Certainly not; Jesus said in (Від Матвія 5:16 ): “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” When the light of Jesus shines in us, other will see the love, mercy, and goodness of God. A good first step for us is to spend time with God each day and abide in His presence and glory. When we do this, people should see Jesus' light in all we do and say.