Acts 6:15 (NRSV) And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
This was Stephen. He had been called to service in the early church and found himself under attack. People did not like that he was confronting and challenging their religious customs. The crowd was about to kill him. They would succeed, but not until he had his say.
What I see in this scene is a non-anxious presence. Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. Have you had that experience? It is what is supposed to happen to us in worship.
Ephesians 5:18-19 (NRSV) Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts.
I think it should happen in church. I think it can happen in all sorts of places. There are times when we sing together that we turn our faces to God and he moves us deeply. Tears wash our face and our heart. We are encouraged. We are reminded that we are not alone. Our burdens are lifted. We love and are loved.
When we have those experiences our anxiety is cured. Whatever we face is faceable. When you know this peace, you become a gift to those around you. You are the one who can see. You are the one who can think clearly. You are the one who is ready to speak just the right word. Like Stephen, you become an instrument in the hands of God. Do you know that experience? I hope you do!
This was Stephen. He had been called to service in the early church and found himself under attack. People did not like that he was confronting and challenging their religious customs. The crowd was about to kill him. They would succeed, but not until he had his say.
What I see in this scene is a non-anxious presence. Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. Have you had that experience? It is what is supposed to happen to us in worship.
Ephesians 5:18-19 (NRSV) Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts.
I think it should happen in church. I think it can happen in all sorts of places. There are times when we sing together that we turn our faces to God and he moves us deeply. Tears wash our face and our heart. We are encouraged. We are reminded that we are not alone. Our burdens are lifted. We love and are loved.
When we have those experiences our anxiety is cured. Whatever we face is faceable. When you know this peace, you become a gift to those around you. You are the one who can see. You are the one who can think clearly. You are the one who is ready to speak just the right word. Like Stephen, you become an instrument in the hands of God. Do you know that experience? I hope you do!
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