APRIL 25 | ACTS 7:54-8:3

Terry Starr
Apr 25
3 min read

SCRIPTURE

REFLECTION

FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: SACRIFICE ABOVE SELF

By Terry Starr

55 "But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Full.... full of the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to be full of the Holy Spirit? Filled up to the brim. No room left. When your tummy is full, you cannot take another bite. When your glass is full, you cannot pour any more into it. A full tank of gas means your car can go a far distance. Full of the Holy Spirit....filled to the place where there is no place left for self.... or doubt.... or fear. Stephen who was full of the Holy Spirit was able to stand with Christ, even to his own death. To be a martyr, it seems one must deny self, deny doubt and deny fear. To stand with Christ to victory in death.

What does it mean to be a martyr? What does it mean to truly sacrifice all for Christ? It is outside of our realm of comprehension!

Can we understand or comprehend the sacrifice of Stephen and other disciples of Christ who gave up EVERYTHING to follow Jesus? Stephen gave up everything to follow Christ. He was willing to die for Christ. The most critical sacrifice is putting aside one's life. Are you willing to give up your time? Your comfort level? Your possessions? These are all small sacrifices compared to giving up one's life for Christ.

INCREDIBLE BLESSINGS!! That is the overwhelming thought that goes through my mind. We live in comfortable homes, drive nice cars, eat whatever food we feel like eating, are able to buy mostly whatever we want. We live lives of comfort. WE ARE TRULY AND FULLY BLESSED!

What does God require of us? To follow Him at all costs? To sacrifice some of our comforts and desires to help others? To serve Him first? To step outside our comfort zone to share about who Christ is and how only He can save? The old adage that your calendar and checkbook show where you put your priorities. When we look at ours, do we see a priority of Christ in our lives?

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

God is asking us to step out in faith to serve our neighbors in need and share HIS love and the hope of Jesus with others. If we trust completely in Him, we will follow His calling. And, as Stephen, we will look up to heaven and see the glory of God. What an incredible joy and thanksgiving that we will have each day when we serve and follow Him.

Sacrifice, putting aside self, is asking for God's will in every step, every day. What an amazing blessing to experience His unconditional love, His faithfulness, and His daily blessings because we are following His call. Does sacrifice feel comfortable? Is it easy? NO, NOT AT ALL AND NOT EVER. But trusting God and following Jesus every day will give us the most joyful and rewarding experiences of our lives. Dear Father, fill us with your Holy Spirt, your love and mercy so that we have no room for doubt, fear or self.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father,

We ask that you fill us with a deep desire to know you and follow Christ. Reveal yourself anew each day so that we may be filled with your Holy Spirt, leaving little room for doubt or fear. Help us to develop a deep faith and trust in you so that we are comfortable with sacrifices that we do in Your name. Thank you for Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, who suffered and died for us so that we may have eternal peace with you for eternity.

It is in your name you pray! Amen

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TERRY STARR

I am a longtime member of UALC, along with my husband Alan. We raised our four children here and have seven grandchildren. At God's calling, I started a non-profit named Divine Dignity, which gives free hygiene to our neighbors in need while sharing God's love. I retired as an administrator from the UA Schools after 25 years.

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