As a leader of the new spirit-filled church, Stephen is an example of living with a bold, fearless faith. In Acts 7, he gives a speech to the leaders of Israel about how they have rejected messages from God and have for generations. He’s claiming that they have resisted the Holy Spirit and disobeyed God’s law.

Stephen’s bold claims ultimately lead to his death, but before he is stoned, he receives a vision from God: “Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand” (Acts 7:54-55).

How powerful is this vision? Stephen’s eyes are so set on Jesus that in this moment, as he goes against powerful leaders and faces death, he’s not afraid. He sets his eyes on heaven and sees the greater glory, and it edifies the truth he already knows—Jesus paid it all and won the victory.

So, how do we get that kind of faith? I think back to Acts 2:42, which says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” I love the clarity of this verse. This is the start of the early church (such an exciting moment in Scripture!), and we get clear instructions on how this church and these leaders lived. They were devoted to the teaching of God’s word and Jesus’ victory on the cross, healthy community with one another, sharing meals together, and prayer—their personal one-on-one relationships with God.

This feels like the basics of church, right? It seems so simple, but I think we all know there are times when we let worldly things get the best of our time. As we continue through this post-Easter season, I encourage you to remember Stephen and consider how you can build your faith like he did and like the early church did as well. See how God blesses that for you!

Reflection:

  • Whether it be devoting yourself to the teaching of God’s word, more fellowship, sharing meals and being hospitable, practicing prayer, or something else, how do you feel God is leading you into a deeper relationship with him in this season?
  • What steps do you need to take to make that happen?