Full of God’s Grace and Power

March 24

(Acts 6:8-15 NIV) "Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. {9} Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)--Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, {10} but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke. {11} Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God." {12} So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. {13} They produced false witnesses, who testified, "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. {14} For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us." {15} All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel."

Stephen was one of the seven men chosen by the apostles to help oversee the distribution of food for those in need. He also had prophetic gifts and began to preach the word of God with authority. He is described as a man who was “full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom” -- “a man full of God's grace and power”, who “did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people”. The religious experts “could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke”. When Stephen spoke, “his face was like the face of an angel”. Today we would call Stephen a “superstar”. Being a superstar for God will get you noticed, especially by those who oppose the name of Jesus. Stephen faced his persecutors and never flinched. Are you full of God’s grace, wisdom, faith, and power? You will face opposition and persecution. Take it as a compliment and shine! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day