THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 7:54-8:1
“I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56)
Often Jesus is described as ‘sitting’ at the right hand of God.
But here Stephen sees Jesus standing, ready to step in and support Him.
Stephen is not ignoring the angry people threatening him.
But the Spirit in him helps him see beyond them, to see Jesus.
As a Jesus follower, I often have fears that hold me back and bring me down.
My fears are not like Stephen’s but they are still real to me.
The Spirit of Jesus is calling me to look to Him, and not to the fears.
My problem is that I get too focused on the problems, and I don’t see Jesus.
Jesus is in charge, He is at God’s right hand, nothing is beyond His control.
He has a purpose, and neither Satan, nor sin, nor suffering, nor death can stop it.
Satan wants to debilitate me, to keep me from standing up with Jesus.
I need to allow the Spirit to lift my heart, my eyes, my hope.
As I surrender my heart to Jesus, Jesus is standing up for/with me.
Today I choose to visualize Jesus standing up for me, standing with me!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, my fears are nothing compared to You. Help me to refuse my fears, and focus my faith on You. You are in charge, and I am more than a conqueror in You!
Who do you worship? Self-worship or God worship.
The religious leaders were happy what their hands had done. Stephen’s response was just the opposite. He was Spirit filled and as stated in Psalm 23 ‘though I walk through the valley of death, I fear no evil for though are with me.’
When we suffer with Christ the Spirit of God rests upon us. God does not leave us to ourselves as we see here – Jesus was standing to receive His servant.
Not what my hands have done can save my guilty soul
Not what my toiling flesh has borne can make my spirit whole
Not what I feel or do can give me peace with God
Not all my prayers and sighs and tears can bear my awful load
I praise the God of grace, I trust His truth and might
He calls me His, I call Him mine, my God, my joy, my light
My Lord has saved my life and freely pardon gives
I love because He first loved me, I live because He lives