The Bethany Bullet-Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Acts 6 & 7

St. Stephen’s day is celebrated on December 26th. His call to serve the needy was perhaps one of the historical impetuses for “Boxing Day.” The day on which (historically) people would gather from the abundance of their Christmas gifts and plenty give to those in need.

Stephen’s story as recorded in the book of Acts, teaches us that God is often working His master plan in the midst of events that from mere appearances would indicate His absence or neglect.

Stephen uses God’s action in the lives of some of the great heroes of the faith to prove His point.

Take for instance Abraham…
God promised him that he would be the father of a great nation. By the time he was 100 and his wife in her 90’s the couple was still childless. BUT GOD blessed Sarah, she gave birth to Abraham’s son, Isaac. As the promise declared, his descendants became too great to count.

Take for instance Joseph…
This boy was Daddy’s favorite son and the object of his brother’s scorn. Eventually he was sold into slavery and then to make matters worse was thrown into prison. BUT GOD, who gave him the very dreams that got him into trouble to begin with, granted him dreams that got him out of prison and in the long run saved his family.

Take for instance Moses…
Born a Hebrew, raised as Egyptian royalty. He was in self-imposed exile in the desert, a shepherd wandering in the wilderness, not at home among either the Egyptians or the Israelites. BUT GOD through him would shepherd His people and deliver them from exile, lead them through the wilderness and settle them in the Promised Land.

Take for instance David...
Jesse had been told one of his sons would be king. He lined them up to see which one the prophet would anoint. When none was found Jesse remembered that his youngest was out in the field. Surely he couldn’t be the one? David was his own father’s afterthought. BUT GOD had chosen him to sit on the throne and would call His own Son, David’s great son.

BUT GOD…

Stephen’s point, when events, circumstances and situations appear to say that God is absent don’t be surprised if God is preparing to work His wonderful plan; and don’t be surprised if He works it out through you as He has through His people in moments of despair, rejection, exile, abandonment. Like Stephen, where can you speak the “however” of heaven? Like Abraham, Joseph, Moses and David in what circumstance of your life do you need to hear “BUT GOD?”