The Power of a Life Lived Faithfully
Throughout this series, “Collateral Faith,” we have been looking at people who were impacted by the Savior and the Message but were not central characters in the story. We will never know the impact that some people’s interaction with Jesus may have had. For example, surely Simon of Cyrene was a changed man after carrying Jesus’ cross. Three of the four Gospels mention him, and he was just a man who had come into the city from the country, possibly to celebrate the Passover (Luke 23:26). Simon just happened to be there, then he unexpectedly found himself in the middle of the spectacle, walking up the hill to Golgotha with Jesus’ cross.
There is one person whose faith journey has always been impactful to me: Stephen. He has been dubbed as the first Christian martyr, which came to be a very public role. But what impresses me about Stephen was his apparent preparation to be ready to fill such a role. He was introduced in Acts 6:5 as one of the seven men who were chosen to minister to the Grecian widows who were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. He was described as “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.” Stephen was a godly man who had developed a strong Christian character, a robust faith, and was led by God. That initial description of him is one that could be applied to countless individuals in our own churches.
What has always struck me as the most difficult thing about living a Christian life is the daily walk and choices that have to be made. Will we do our daily devotional, or do we feel so distracted or pressed for time that we skip it? Will we choose to be an active part of our local congregation, or will we let other interests or pursuits push that out of our lives? Will we make good decisions when we are in a tough spot or are dealing with difficult people?
These endless small decisions are what set up our trajectory in life and help us develop character. However, it is also the endless small decisions that can be tiring and trip us up when our guard is down. Stephen seems to have been a person who was walking that Christian path in a way that was admirable. Was it glamorous that he was chosen to be one of the first seven deacons in the early church tasked with making sure the widows were taken care of? No, it wasn’t, but someone with his steady character was needed for a job that happened day-in and day-out.
Perhaps, because of his faithful track record, God chose to use Stephen for something greater. What Stephen was known for is actually just a tiny part of his life. In Acts 6:8, we read that God had granted him the ability to do great wonders and signs among the people. God was using his well-developed character and faith to bring others to him. Because of this very thing, Stephen was seized and tried. Acts 6:15 says that when the Sanhedrin looked at him, he had the face of an angel. Stephen had the opportunity to give a powerful speech before the Jewish leaders; then he brought it home with the reality of their rejection of Christ. Acts 7:54-56 says that as the members of the Sanhedrin were angriest with him, he looked up to see Jesus standing up, ready to receive him.
Perhaps, like Stephen, God is using our everyday lives to develop our character for a small part of our lives. Our entire lives do not have to be filled with tasks that others deem important. God is using us daily in small ways, but perhaps there will be a bigger thing later. While we have a clear record of how God ended up using Stephen, God may give us a task that has eternal consequences that we may not even know about on this side of heaven. My hope and prayer is that we pursue God, day-in and day-out, developing our faith and character for service to Him in whatever way He deems fit.
