"The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus." Acts 5:41 NLT. We also see in Stephen's case; "Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. Then rushed at him and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. 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.
Acts of the Apostles 7:57-60 NLT. What would you do if you had to defend your resolve for your faith in Christ? All over the world, Christians are killed everyday. Recently in Nigeria, a young girl named Deborah was killed for her faith. She was stoned to death and then burnt. In other similar incidents in the northern Nigeria, Christians are offered the chance to renounce Christ and live. Facing death, and with a knife to their throat they were given one choice; Jesus or Allah?
But it didn't start in Nigeria, this was how the church began. The apostle's and Stephen's story stand as an important lesson in our devotional today. Facing persecution, they counted it worthy to be beaten. In fact, Stephen literally welcomed death if it meant dying for the name of Jesus. Is your resolve that strong? Would you stand for your faith if you had to choose in the face of death?
Let's pray; Lord help us to strengthen our resolve. Help us to stand for our faith in Jesus even if it means laying down our lives in Jesus' name.
