Faithfulness

Journal Entry 6-24-10
One of my favorite activities to do in the evening is to listen to podcasts of sermons-Mark Driscoll, John Piper, and John Weece are some of my favorite/the only ones we have on our iPods. We listened to a sermon on suffering by Mark Driscoll-his advice on suffering: It's not that it won't be heavy but God's love is heavier. It's not that it isn't bad or hard but there are worse things out there.

I want to share two of my favorite passages that I read that evening:

9)And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people 16) And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like that of an angel 55) But he full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. 59) And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord do not hold this sin against them." And when he said this he fell asleep.
-Acts 7

When I read Acts 7 chills cover my body. I can't imagine being Stephen in that situation. In the beginning of his speech he must have pleased his Jewish audience by presenting a view of history from the Jewish perspective. He mentioned their famous ancestors such as: Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and David-but then he laid it on them, and attacked the Jewish establishment. Stephen compared their treatment of Jesus with earlier Jewish rejection of God's messengers. He ended the speech by calling them traitors and murderers- 51"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you who have betrayed and murdered him-you who have received the law that was put into effect by angels but have not obeyed it." And because of his boldness of Truth they killed him. 57"They covered their ears and yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, charged him out of the city and began to stone him."
And because of this? 8:1"On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea an Samaria." The church still faces much opposition and persecution-men and women around the world are willing to sacrifice it all for their faith.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. -Daniel 3:16-18

I am so impressed with Daniel's three friends-the quality of their faith is later commended in Hebrews 11. These three guys were willing to face the consequences whether or not God rescued them. I don't believe the Sunday School version of this story ever emphasized this severe test of faith- because God came through and miraculously they were saved, yet these men had no clue that God was going to save them. They were willing to sacrifice their lives whether God saved them or not. I also loved how quick their response is, I know I would've responded-"Give me a few days to pray and I'll get back to you...k?" These men knew what God expected from them and fully trusted Him.


I am in awe of their faith every time I read the passages. It is so convicting yet encouraging-they were willing to risk it all for God. I desire a faith like these men-no matter the cost. They gave their lives and Christ calls me to give mine. A commentary sums up True Faith: God does not guarantee a life of luxury and ease. It is tough faith: a constant commitment to hang on and believe God against all odds, no matter what.