Stephen: Full of Grace and Power

Beloved friend,

Stephen experienced such a moment—not in the comfort of a sanctuary, but surrounded by the rage of religious leaders hurling stones at his body. What sustained him wasn't the absence of suffering, but the presence of the Holy Spirit filling every fiber of his being.

The text tells us Stephen was "full of grace and power" (Acts 6:8), yet this fullness didn't shield him from persecution—it prepared him for it. Grace didn't make his path easier; it made his heart larger. Power didn't remove the stones; it transformed his response to them.

The same Holy Spirit who enabled Stephen to see Jesus standing at the Father's right hand is the One who dwells within us today, ready to open our spiritual eyes when earthly circumstances would blind us to heaven's reality.

Notice that Jesus wasn't merely sitting in heavenly comfort while Stephen suffered—He was standing. Our Savior rises to His feet when His children face their greatest trials. As A.W. Tozer once wrote, "God operates on his own timeline, without being bound by human deadlines or pressures, and that understanding this can bring peace and relaxation to our spirits, as we trust in his perfect timing."

Stephen's faithfulness didn't go unnoticed in heaven, and neither does ours. Every act of courage, every moment we choose forgiveness over revenge, every time we speak truth in love—Jesus stands as our witness and advocate.

The power that sustained Stephen is available to us in our own moments of testing. We may not face physical stones, but we encounter rejection, misunderstanding, and circumstances that would steal our peace. Yet when we're filled with the Holy Spirit, we too can see beyond the immediate storm to the eternal reality of Christ's victory.

Stephen's martyrdom became a seed that would later bloom in the conversion of Saul, reminding us that our faithfulness often bears fruit in ways we cannot see.

So be encouraged, when the storms of life rage around you, remember that heaven's perspective is always available to those filled with His Spirit. Your faithfulness, even in the darkest moments, speaks volumes to a watching world and a standing Saviour.

For reflection: Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh today. In what current situation do you need to see with heaven's eyes rather than earth's limitations? Take a moment to invite His presence to transform your perspective.

Steadfast in the Truth of Christ

– The Living Gospel Letters Team