Today we remember St Stephen, the first Christian
martyr. It seems jarring to read these
lessons the first day after Christmas but it brings us back to reality in that
Jesus always promised that if we followed Him we would find persecution and
difficulty.
In this first lesson we see that once the priest, Jehoida,
was dead, the leaders of the people were without restraint in religious
matters. As they came to pay respects to
the king on the loss of the priest, they convinced him that they should now
pursue other gods to ensure their continued prosperity. They forgot who they were and whose they
were. We see our own nation doing this
same thing, denying its Christian foundation and chasing after other gods. We are addicted to prosperity and will do
whatever is necessary to have it. In
that time, the Lord raised up the son of Jehoioda, Zechariah (different from
the prophet), who spoke truth to the people and tried to get them to repent but
they chose instead to kill him to silence him.
His final cry is that the Lord would see what was being done and avenge
his murder on the murderers.
Stephen is full of faith and the Holy Spirit. The deacons were necessary in order that the
apostles be devoted to prayer and the ministry of the word. Deacons were to handle the distribution of
food to the widows among the Christians.
All that being true, why was Stephen martyred? He was martyred because he was full of grace
and power and was doing great wonders and signs among the people and it aroused
opposition. His job may have been
distribution of food but He was called also to greater things. None of us can be defined simply by what we
do for a living and there is no reason the one who serves in the most humble
role cannot do great things, we have one Spirit. Just as we were given Zechariah’s last words,
so we also know Stephen’s as he was being stoned, "Lord, do not hold this
sin against them." Sound vaguely like, "Father, forgive them, for
they know not what they do."?
Good Christian men,
rejoice, with heart and soul and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave: Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all, to gain His everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!
Now ye need not fear the grave: Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all, to gain His everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!
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