Why Playing It Safe Does Not Work
It is a curious coincidence that ‘stephanos’, the Greek word for crown, translates also as ‘Stephen’. Wasn’t Stephen a Christian martyr, perhaps even the first Christian martyr? At least Acts thinks so (Acts 7:58-60). With bold spirit breathing words, Stephen declared God’s dealings with Israel. I have read his words often and marvel at the turn in Acts 7:51. Stephen signed his own death certificate with those words. Couldn’t he have left those words out and lived longer? I mean, his story was accurate to this point. Do you muse about this? How many could Jesus have saved through a life lived instead of one tossed aside? God was using him to do miracles and wonders (Acts 6:8). Why not pile some more wonders up? You know stack them high and deep. Jesus has the answer to this. He said, “A single grain of wheat doesn’t produce anything unless it is planted in the ground and dies. If it dies, it will produce a lot of grain (John 12:24 GW). They buried Stephen. Devout men did what devout men do (Acts 8:2). Before his warm body could grow cold, the wonder of wonders started. Gospel germination began. The disciples scattered preaching everywhere because of Stephens death (Acts 11:19). Stephen produced more in his death than all the miracle credits he would have amassed by leaving verse 51 out of his sermon. And as for Stephen? ‘Stepahnos’ Stephen will wear the first New Testament awarded ‘stephanos’ crown of life. It’s all because he spoke out verse fifty one instead of playing it safe.
For more on this subject see ‘Enduring Tests and Trials: The Crown of Life; James 1:12’
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