Acts 6:8-15 What Did You Expect?

Observation: The story of the Acts of the Apostles is told in a brilliant way, so that Jesus' continued presence is made clear in the words and actions of his followers. Even though the Lord himself has ascended and is no longer walking beside his community, it's clear from the "wonders and signs", and through the care and compassion they show for one another, that Jesus is still active in that movement. Unfortunately, Jesus' presence is also quite clear in the reaction of religious authorities to the Apostles' ministry: namely, it's not well received. 

Application: History repeats itself. Sometimes I think when we try to imitate Jesus and the early church in our lives--the most basic definition of discipleship--we are shocked that the world (including professed Christians) does not welcome us with open arms. Jesus said, "the world will hate you because it hated me." 

Stephen from Acts seems like a worthy role model. He is the one to whom the apostles delegated the task of feeding and providing care for God's people while they continued the ministry of sharing their witness to Jesus with others. His role seems the least controversial: who can argue with caring and feeding, right? And yet Stephen becomes the first martyr to Jesus. It seems that even caring and feeding, when you do it in the name of a man crucified by the state at the behest of the religious authorities, can get you killed. 

Emulating Jesus in our lives comes at a price. Talking about our responsibility to care for each other comes at a price. If we want to act like Jesus, we'd better be prepared to be treated like Jesus. It's called "the way of the cross" for a reason. But the reason Jesus and Stephen walked it is because they knew something we must never forget: that there is no other way to the kind of new life our world desperately needs. If there was one, the Son of God would surely have found it. So if we are disciples, in smaller and less dramatic ways (God willing), our lives will sometimes reflect Jesus' life. In signs and wonders, but also in suffering. Rejoice in that day and be glad. Firstly, because you're going to face pain anyway, and it's an honor to be hurting for the right reason. And secondly, because this discomfort is not meaningless. It is part of the process of new life in Christ.

Prayer: Jesus, I don't ask this lightly...make my life like yours. Amen.