What Will You Do Today?

Good Morning Friends,

Today is St. Stephen’s Day… commonly known as Boxing Day. It is a day mentioned in the familiar Christmas carol, Good King Wenceslas and marks the first day in the Twelve Days of Christmas that ends on the Feast of the Epiphany. Its origins are found in the practice of giving cash or goods to the poor and in some ways were about preserving class lines. Few Americans have any inkling that there is a holiday, on December 26 commemorating the martyrdom of Stephen. Despite the lively images suggested by the name, Boxing Day, it has nothing to do with fighting or getting rid of excess boxes, but likely, more closely linked to putting money in the poor box, as a special collection the day following Christmas.   What Will You Do Today?

Scripture: if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.

Isaiah 58:10 (NRSV)

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 (NRSV)

Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Matthew 10:17-22 (NRSV)

Message: Stephen has the distinction of being the first to ever sacrifice his life for the cause of Christ. His commitment to Christ was unwavering, and his devotion was unending in the face of real opposition. We would do well to mimic him for we all must die. I believe there is a hope in each of us that in life and in death our actions would count for something good. Stephen was a man who wore many hats. He was a deacon, and evangelist but also a saint and a martyr. He was not only the first to die for having a faith in Christ but also one of the most influential. His connection to the conversion of Paul turned the tide. How he died is one of the greatest witnesses ever given for it is filled with the Holy Spirit and the invisible working of God’s power manifested in an angelic face. For there is a connection between witnessing with conviction and martyrdom. The thing is despite what hats we wear the one that is often remembered is our last effort. Today is the Feast Day of Stephen. Even years after the fact, Paul could not forget the angelic face of Stephen as he sat on trial before the Sanhedrin. Hopefully this same light that shone in the life of Stephen would instruct us on how we too might dispel a bit of the darkness of the world.

Pray on this day of Christmas that we unwrap our spiritual gifts. Pray the Spirit of our conviction and devotion is palatable. Pray
that we like Stephen have the confidence of believing we will someday be with Jesus. Pray we give ourselves to God to be used by God. Pray we serve in ministry to those vulnerable in need of support. Pray we are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom and continue to grow in grace. Pray we have a grace that extends beyond salvation to the gifts we have been given so we might accomplish great things for the kingdom of God. Pray we realize that those who present stumbling blocks to the work of Jesus are ignorant of what they do and need our prayers. Pray that we realize that God is working out the details of our ultimate provision in His mercy and for His ultimate glory. Pray we realize that in it all and through it all God is in charge. Pray we realize that it is always a great idea that we answer the call to serve the poor. Pray this day we would be about doing something to bring gladness, in the name of Jesus to someone who has few pleasures.

Blessings,

John Lawson