In Refuel we are going through the book of Acts. Last night we were discussing the stoning of Stephen.
"When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep." Acts 7:54-60 (NIV)
There was a question in our work book that I couldn't come up with an answer for this week.
"How does Stephen's example encourage you?"
I left it blank, because I simply did not have an answer.
But last night a brother in our small group time answered the question; rather simply, he said, "He was a man without a price."
And that hit me pretty hard. Do I have a price? Do I have a point where too many stones are flying and I would say, "enough!"
Or could I let all the stones fly and keep my eyes on Jesus?
It's a sobering question, one to chew on for a while.
Do you have a price?
