Security in an unpredictable world…

Yesterday I again read the good news, a message from God that is almost too amazing to believe:

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6–8)

It was this good news that changed the world, beginning with it preached by the first Christians. It is summed up in this verse:

And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:7)

Again, this is amazing. The religious men who wanted Jesus crucified became believers, God opened their eyes and their lives were forever changed. But not all of them.

A disciple named Stephen gave the Jews a big-picture history lesson. It reminded them of all that God had done to secure them as His people, yet he did not whitewash the story. He included their disobedience and his message ended with these words:

Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things? You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it. (Acts 7:49–53)

Those who listened were not part of the number who multiplied or the priests that believed. Instead…

Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 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. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 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 had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:54–60)

Only one convert is mentioned this time, eventually. But he already knew the story and it was not the message that softened his heart, nor was any softening even visible. The next verse said “Saul approved of his execution” and he went on to “ravage the church” and put Christians in prison. He continued to arrest them with threat to kill them. However, in a short time this Saul who watched Stephen die for his faith and forgive those who killed him was confronted by the risen Christ. This one convert in the hands of God became Paul whom He used to change many lives.

PRAY: God, You are always a surprise. When our lives do this \/\/\/\/\, You are with us and Your ways are not our ways. Your story of the OT and of the NT early church is filled with things that make me say “Only GOD” and so glad that You sometimes let me see some of Your secrets and Your plans. Thank You for being the anchor, the solid place where I can be secure, no matter what You reveal, no matter what happens to me.