by A. Garrett Eason
art by unknown artist in the Public Domain
As humans, our comprehension of God’s mastery can be difficult for us to understand. His knowledge surpasses all knowledge, and his justice is right and always good. However, most of the time we look through our human eyes at a situation of injustice and think the worst rather than being submissive to God’s plan, which is always important. Let’s look to our Heavenly Father, who created the world with the Words of His mouth when He says,
For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed.
Isaiah 61:8-9, NLT
Looking at this passage of Scripture, the Lord Almighty is clear that he loves justice, and the Lord is faithful to His Words.
So let us use the time that the Lord has given us, to come closer to Him and submit to God’s will, feeding on the Word of God and letting Him transform us. Just as Paul says in his letter to the Romans,
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Romans 12:2, NLT
Notice how Paul says God’s will “is good and pleasing and perfect,” and it is. And look at what God has done through prophets and Apostles in the past. For example, “Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8, NLT), was chosen by the Apostles to help in their food program. However, he was falsely accused of blaspheming the name of God by lying witnesses, which resulting in him being dragged into court. As Stephen replied to these accusations, he used the truth of God’s word and reminded the accusers of how they had killed the prophets and even Jesus Christ the Messiah, the Anointed One. At this, the Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage.
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand! ”Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.
Acts 7:55-60, NLT
This passage reveals God’s Spirit that was in Stephen, to display God’s glory and grace. Stephen was strong in the Spirit, a true worshiper of Christ, and pure in heart. Though sometimes, through human eyes it’s hard to see, God had a wonderful plan for Stephen even on earth and an even better one in heaven where Stephen will be with his Lord for eternity.
So let us stop seeing things from a human point of view and do as or Lord Jesus Christ says,
“… you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”
Matthew 16:24-26, NLT
Resources
- “What Can We Learn from St. Stephen? – The Catalog of Good Deeds” @ obitel-minsk.com
- Matthew 16:24-26, NLT
- Acts 7, NLT
- Acts 6, NLT
- Romans 12, NLT
- “25 Bible Verses about Justice,” @ biblestudytools.com
