But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently 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 up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice,
and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him;
and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said,
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! ” Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!”
Having said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:55-60 NASB)
A while back, as Sharon and I were talking about the verses you read above, I noticed something: On what most people would consider the most horrible day of Stephen’s life, Jesus was with him, and doing a marvelous work.
When tough times hit, we are prone to question our faith and God’s love for us, aren’t we? Jesus never promised us ease, but He did promise to be with us.
C.H. Spurgeon told the story of the preacher who was walking in the countryside and stopped by a farmhouse for a drink of water. The old farmer who lived there went out to talk to the preacher. As they were talking the preacher noticed that the barn had a weather vane on it that was spinning around in the wind. On the weather vane the words “GOD IS LOVE” was engraved.
The preacher said to the man, “I don’t think that is a very good way to talk about God’s love. Are you saying that God’s love is “wishy-washy” and changes depending on the way the wind blows?” “No, no,” said the farmer. “That Weather Vane is saying, “No matter which way the wind blows, God is Love.”
Which way is the wind blowing in your life today? Remember God is with you, and God loves you.
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