Nuggets 83: Extreme Grace

  • B. Shelburne
  • Oct 8, 2007
  • Series: Nuggets

Years ago our family read together the book Tortured for Christ, Richard Wurmbrand's account of the suffering of Christians under communist domination.  Wurmbrand described how persecutors threatened to beat a man's 12-year-old son to death in front of his eyes if the father did not inform on other Christians.  The father started to give in, but the son said, "Father, don't tell.  I am willing to die."  And the son was beaten to death.

My younger son remarked, "I am afraid I could not be faithful under that kind of suffering."  His mother wisely answered, "If God requires us to go through such a trial, he will provide the special strength we need."

Stephen preached Christ so powerfully that it enraged the Sanhedrin Court.  As they prepared to stone him to death, Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit.  Heaven opened and he saw Jesus standing at God's right hand.  Other scriptures always show Jesus sitting.  Was he standing in recognition of Stephen's faith and sacrifice?  What Stephen saw enabled him to die graciously.  His dying words were remarkably like those of Christ on the cross.  Stephen prayed forgiveness for his murderers and committed his spirit to Jesus.

In most cases God does not call us to be executed but to pick up a daily cross of sacrifice.  Whichever it is, "God will never lead us where his grace cannot keep us."

Acts 7:54-60;  Matthew 28:20b;  10:16-20;  1 Corinthians 10:13;  2 Corinthians 12:7-10;  Isaiah 41:10;  2 Peter 2:9

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Copyright 2007 by G.B. Shelburne, III.  May be freely reproduced or forwarded for non-commercial purposes provided content is unchanged and this copyright notice is included.  These shepherding messages are sent to members and friends of New Beginnings Church (www.nbchurch.com), to students and alumni of South Houston Bible Institute (www.shbi.org), and to other interested persons.

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