Thomas was struggling to sleep because of the storm raging outside. As soon as he would settle, thunder rattled the windowpanes and he was wide awake again. We had completed our bedtime routine earlier but he was no nearer to sleep, so we talked. I asked him to tell me his Bible verses, one letter at a time, telling him we don’t simply memorize scripture to show off. God means for us to hide His Word in our hearts, as the Psalmist penned, in order to prepare us for all of life.
Storms are scary for a toddler. The noises and suddenness of it all are unsettling, maybe for you too. Routine is important for little ones and this was definitely not part of the plan. He wanted his momma, but he didn’t want me to leave the room to get her. As we circled through his verses, Psalm 46:10 reminded us, “Be still and know that I am God.” My Granny would sit us down during a storm to focus on the bigness of God. I Peter 5:7 instructs us to “cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” God is ever-present, all-knowing, and all-powerful. He is equal to every challenge. He is victorious over all. We learn something of God in His inspired Word. Knowing scripture is incredibly important for God’s Word steadies and guides us. By it, we are prepared for anything.
”All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.“
2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/2ti.3.16-17.ESV
When he woke up that morning, Stephen had no idea that he would see Jesus face to face before sundown. When we read Luke’s account of Stephen martyred, we lose a bit in the brevity. We know the kind of man Stephan was as he was twice described as full of the Spirit of God. As the number of Jesus’s followers multiplied greatly in the early days of the church, conflict arose. The apostles’ solution?
”We want you to carefully select from among yourselves seven godly men.
Make sure they are honorable, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and we will give them the responsibility of this crucial ministry of serving.
That will enable us to give our full attention to prayer and preaching the word of God.”“
Acts 6:3-4 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/act.6.3-4.TPT
Acts 7 records a masterful sermon addressing the false testimony against him, point by point. Stephen powerfully articulates a history of Israel from Abraham to Moses and the prophets, proving it was not he who rejected Moses, God, the temple or the law, but they, his accusers.
”But the Holy Spirit gave Stephen remarkable wisdom to answer them. His words were prompted by the Holy Spirit, and they could not refute what he said.“
Acts 6:10 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/act.6.10.TPT
”When they heard these things, they were overtaken with violent rage filling their souls, and they gnashed their teeth at him.
But Stephen, overtaken with great faith, was full of the Holy Spirit. He fixed his gaze into the heavenly realm and saw the glory and splendor of God—and Jesus, who stood up at the right hand of God.
“Look!” Stephen said. “I can see the heavens opening and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God to welcome me home!”
His accusers covered their ears with their hands and screamed at the top of their lungs to drown out his voice. Then they pounced on him and threw him outside the city walls to stone him.
His accusers, one by one, placed their outer garments at the feet of a young man named Saul of Tarsus.
As they hurled stone after stone at him, Stephen prayed, “Our Lord Jesus, accept my spirit into your presence.”
He crumpled to his knees and shouted in a loud voice, “Our Lord, don’t hold this sin against them.” And then he died.“
Acts 7:54-60 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/act.7.54-60.TPT
Even in his death, Stephen spoke Truth. Rather than shielding his face from each blow, he gazed heavenward and was rewarded by a vision of God Most High, and of Jesus standing beside the heavenly throne. His final words before his death were a testimony. When he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,” in the face of certain death, Stephen boldly proclaimed that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6) Like his Lord, Jesus, he even asked forgiveness for his murderers who would experience pangs of guilt eventually.
”Now, Saul agreed to be an accomplice to Stephen’s stoning and participated in his execution.
From that day on, a great persecution of the church in Jerusalem began.
All the believers scattered into the countryside of Judea and among the Samaritans, except the apostles who remained behind in Jerusalem.
Then Saul mercilessly persecuted the church of God, going from house to house into the homes of believers to arrest both men and women and drag them off to prison.“
Acts 8:1, 3 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/act.8.1-3.TPT
Later by his own testimony, Paul admits his guilt as he shares his calling to carry the good news and to minister among the Gentiles. Rather than allow his complicit sin to negate his witness, it drives him and gives him purpose.
”For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.“
Hebrews 4:12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.4.12.NLT
“He said to me, ‘Hurry and depart from Jerusalem quickly, for the people here will not receive the truths you share about me.’ “
‘But Lord,’ I argued, ‘they all know that I’m the one who went into our Jewish meetings to find those who believe in you and had them beaten and imprisoned.
When the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I stood nearby in full approval of what was happening. I even guarded the cloaks of those who stoned him to death.’ “
Then he said to me, ‘Go at once, for I am sending you to preach to the non-Jewish nations.’ ”“
Acts 22:18-21 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/act.22.18-21.TPT
Paul would later write, in his letter to the church at Thessalonica, of our hope in Christ, Stephen’s confident hope.
”And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.
For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God.
First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.
Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
Then we will be with the Lord forever.
So encourage each other with these words.“
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1th.4.13-18.NLT
Apparently last week, I slept through an entire hailstorm. I’ve slept through hurricanes and thunderstorms like Jesus in the boat with His disciples on a raging sea. (Mark 4:37-40) The tempest settles me. I don’t know why but I sleep better in a storm. One thing I do know- God’s Word settles me like nothing else in the storms of life. When things start quaking, I remember that I am receiving an unshakable Kingdom through no effort of my own. (Hebrews 12:28)
”We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”“
Acts of the Apostles 15:11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/act.15.11.NLT
”But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught.
You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.
You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.“
2 Timothy 3:14-15 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.3.14-15.NLT
”Everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us by his divine power.
For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him who has called us by name and invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his goodness.“
2 Peter 1:3 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/2pe.1.3.TPT
”Since we are receiving our rights to an unshakable kingdom we should be extremely thankful and offer God the purest worship that delights his heart as we lay down our lives in absolute surrender, filled with awe.“
Hebrews 12:28 TPT
A Fitting Reply 