Acts 7:59-60
As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.

Stephen was a man “full of God’s grace and power” who “performed amazing miracles and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). When opposition came against the early Christians, he was one of the first to be arrested. As he faced the accusers during his trial, all who saw him said “his face became as bright as an angel’s” (Acts 6:15).

For his defense, Stephen preached a powerful sermon proving from Scripture that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, but the Jews weren’t buying it. They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Amazingly, even as the rocks were killing him, he asked God not to hold this sin against those putting him to death. Then he died.

Living without fear allows us to face death without fear. We have the confidence, based on God’s Word, that we will pass from death to life, that we will fall asleep in the Lord. Death is the last dreaded enemy, but living without fear allows us to die without fear. Our trust in life and in death is in Christ alone.

Lord Jesus, thank you for the confidence of knowing that we will pass from death to life. Thank you for meeting us in death and taking us home. In your name we pray. Amen.

Additional Resources

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