Today is May 4th.
Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”
Today’s reading is from Acts, chapter 6.
Acts 6:8-15
"8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel."
Imagine being a fly on the wall during this moment in Acts. Stephen, a powerful and beloved leader, is falsely accused. An angry crowd has formed. Accusations are flying, voices are raised, chaos is ensuing. Can you identify with the sense of upheaval and crisis in this passage? How do you respond when things around you go sideways?
The author of Acts tells us that during all of this, Stephen’s face is like that of an angel. What do you think that means? I imagine that it means he was seen as a person in peace in the middle of a lot of anger and drama. As you listen to the passage again, try to see Stephen’s face in your mind’s eye. Where is his attention focused? What do you notice about his expression?
"8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel."
Is it difficult for you to maintain peace when things around you are chaotic? That’s a challenge for almost all of us. Our peace is often linked to our circumstances, which means all too often, it ebbs and flows. But the peace of Christ is something deeper than circumstantial peace. It’s a deep sense of awareness of the presence and goodness of God in our lives, regardless of the chaos around us. As we end our time of prayer today, take several long, slow, deep breaths, and ask God for His peace to reign in you.
Music Credit:
"Peace Be Still" - Vineyard Worship (YouTube)
