Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
We continue to consider our sanctification as a precious part of “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8). Not only does God set us apart to Himself, but He also prepares us to be set apart, to be saved. He draws us (John 6:44; 12:32; 16:13), often using family members (II Timothy 1:5) and always using His Word (John 1:36-37). He also employs the examples and testimonies of Christians who may not be related to us. In Acts 9:1-6, we find the dramatic account of Paul’s conversion to Christianity. How was this hater of the Holy Savior prepared by God? One crucial aspect of God’s preparation is found in Acts 7, where Stephen preaches the Gospel and is stoned to death. Paul was there (verse 58) and “was consenting unto his death” (Acts 8:1). The fearless testimony of Stephen did not immediately soften Paul, but eventually it mattered. Stephen’s last words, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59), were memorable. When Paul hears the voice of Jesus from heaven, he says, “Who art Thou, Lord?” A line of a Gospel song that I like has Paul saying, “ ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked Him, but I already knew.” Paul’s use of “Lord” echoes Stephen’s final words and provides a link between the two men. Others who witnessed Stephen’s martyrdom must also have been impacted. Let us think of the godly men and women who have shown us what faithfulness is, and let us thank our Savior for these examples that helped to prepare us to be saved.