Where is the Love?
When I think of Stephen, I think of one of the greatest examples of being totally committed to following Christ. I probably see Stephen's actions a lot different from some people, at least from the ones I see with bullhorns on the street corners, or the people who only want to "put Christians in their place."
Sure, Acts 7:51 shows us what appears to be a Stephen who is calling out the religious leaders with strong, and with language that seems full of chastisement. If that's where you stopped, it makes sense, but just like you wouldn't read one sentence of a letter and expect to get the sense of the whole, you must read a verse in its context.
Acts 7:60 tells me that throughout Stephen's discourse and rebuke, he was seeing with the eyes of Love. Eyes which were hoping, not out of "I wished they'd follow like I'm following" but out of a heart like that of God who
...isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. - 2 Peter 3:9
What if we began to look at others with the eyes of Love instead of self righteousness?
What if our motivation to confront our brothers and sisters in Christ came from a deep love to see them live according to the will of God, and not some desire to impose our social preferences?
What if?
Created about 4 years ago
