Growing in Grace

“And they [those arguing with Stephen] were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake” (Acts 6:10).

“But we all, with open face beholding … the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The young preacher Stephen does not have many verses in the Bible devoted to his story. He did not live a very long life as a Christian. But it was a remarkable one, and one that should inspire us. He first appears in Acts chapter 6 and is stoned to death by the end of chapter 7.

He was a part of the early church — those who believed on the Lord Jesus and began to meet together after the Lord had ascended back to heaven and the Holy Spirit had come down. Men were arguing with him and trying to trip him up in what he was saying, as they wanted to get rid of him. It tells us in our verse that they could not resist his wisdom and spirit. He was not standing there, arguing and shaking his finger at them. No, the Lord gave him wisdom in what to say, and a spirit in which to say it. It was a gentle spirit, and we learn this from verse 15 of the same chapter. The men that were giving Stephen such a hard time, “looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it has been the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15).

I would think that an angel would have a kind, loving and glowing look to his face. Stephen knew that his life was on the line here. It is wonderful that the Lord gave him this spirit in talking to his accusers. This “spirit” that we talk about does not suddenly appear as a force in our lives. No, it is something to cultivate daily in spending time with the Lord and enjoying His love. It is something we must purpose in our heart to develop and also “cleave” to. This is where our second verse today comes in.

When we have accepted the Lord Jesus as our Savior, we all want to “grow in grace.” This verse shows us that the more we “behold” or gaze on the Lord Jesus, the more we will be changed to be like Him. If we want to be like Him, He will work that wonderful change in us. Move in closer and enjoy His love all day, every day! You will change without even realizing it. I am sure Stephen did not know that his face looked like an angel’s face, but what a testimony that was to all who looked at him.

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Growing in Grace Blog by Bible Truth Publishers

“He [a man named Eleazar] arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword” (2 Samuel 23:10).

“Barnabas … exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord” (Acts 11:22-23).

In English there are two very opposite meanings for the word “cleave” (or “clave” in the past tense). It can mean to split apart. We would use it this way when we talk about “cleaving a piece of wood.” There may be a big pile of logs waiting to be split for the fire, and you might say you needed to “cleave” them into smaller pieces. But then what about what Eleazar did with his sword? He hung onto it so tightly that it was as though, when the battle was over, he could hardly get his hand pried from the handle of the sword. Both of our verses today have this second meaning.

In order to cleave to something, we must have purpose of heart as in our second verse. We must have determination to accomplish something that comes from the heart! We build this kind of character trait when we are young. The teen years you are in right now are probably the most formative of your life. That is a serious thought! You are building a character and habits that will most likely follow you throughout your life.

In earlier meditations we have seen how Joseph, even though traded off by his brothers to be a slave in Egypt, pleased his God and Lord, and this was noticed by Pharaoh. In very hostile surroundings, he let his light shine and he was rewarded (down here on earth) for his faithfulness when he was made a ruler in Egypt.

Later we see Naaman’s wife’s maid doing the same thing. She was in a hostile country and yet she was kind and thoughtful and true to the Lord. When Naaman came back from being healed from his leprosy, I imagine he was very kind to her. Perhaps he even let her go home to her family!

And then there is Daniel. Once again, he was a young person carried away to a conquering country, where he purposed in his heart not to defile himself. He was made a ruler, eventually delivered from the den of lions, and lived to an old age.

As you progress in your teens, you may head off to university or to a workplace. These environments are often hostile to the Bible and the Lord Jesus. With purpose of heart, we need to cleave to the truth of God’s Word and shine for Him. It does not always end up that we are honored as the three examples today were. Tomorrow we will see someone else who put the Lord first, but who was not given the honor he deserved, at least not in this world.

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Growing in Grace Blog by Bible Truth Publishers

“And David said unto him [Mephibosheth], Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually” (2 Samuel 9:7).

The story of Mephibosheth is a very touching one, for it shows how David showed kindness to a young man who was lame on both his feet, and yet was able to sit and eat at King David’s table. You can read the whole story of Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9. Mephibosheth’s father Jonathan had been killed in battle with the Philistines, but David wanted to show kindness to anyone related to King Saul, because David and Saul’s son Jonathan had been such good friends. We know that Saul himself had tried to kill David many times, and Mephibosheth was probably afraid that David would kill him, because he was Saul’s grandson. However, David wanted only to show kindness to him.

But there is something in our verses today that is very special. David told Mephibosheth that he would eat his food at David’s table continually. Yet David also said that he would restore all the land of Saul to Mephibosheth, and told Ziba and his family, with all his servants, to work the land for Mephibosheth, so that “thy master’s son may have food to eat” (2 Samuel 9:10). If Mephibosheth were to eat at David’s table, why did he need a big estate in order to have food to eat?

David not only restored Mephibosheth to a place at his table, as one of David’s sons, but he also restored his dignity. He was not simply an object of charity, or welfare; no, he had his own estate with servants to work it for him. He did not need the food that was produced, but having that big estate gave him a proper dignity, as a king’s son. How gracious of David to do this!

The Lord has done the same thing for us as Christians. Like Mephibosheth, we did not deserve anything but death, but God has given us new life in Christ, and we will spend eternity with Him in heaven. However, He has given us more than that. He has given us an “eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15), so that we have a dignity that is appropriate for us as sons of God. What a wonderful place God has brought us into! The Lord Jesus is going to inherit all created things, and He is going to share that inheritance with us.

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Growing in Grace Blog by Bible Truth Publishers

“Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. And Asahel pursued after Abner … wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib … and he fell down there, and died in the same place” (2 Samuel 2:18-19, 23).

Asahel was one of David’s young men, and he was very brave. In fact, he is mentioned in 2 Samuel 23:24 as being one of David’s mighty men. David valued him greatly, but sadly, he died at a young age. Why did this happen? If you read the whole story of Asahel in 2 Samuel 2:18-24, you will see what happened.

As we see in one of our verses today, Asahel had the ability to run fast, and the Bible says that he was “as light of foot as a wild roe [deer].” Another good translation of the verse says that he was “swift of foot.” In the battle that took place between the servants of David and the servants of Saul, it seems that Asahel wanted the glory of killing Abner, the captain of Saul’s army. For this reason Asahel ran as fast as he could after Abner, and paid no attention to anybody else. But Asahel was only a young man, and he had not had much experience in warfare. Abner was a well-trained and experienced soldier, and Asahel was no match for him. Abner did not want to kill Asahel, and called out to him to chase someone else. But when Asahel would not listen, eventually Abner struck him with the back end of his spear, possibly thinking only of wounding Asahel. But the spear killed him, and he died right there in the field.

When we are young, sometimes we want to attempt to do things that are beyond our ability. This can happen in our natural life, and it can happen to us as Christians too. Perhaps we really want to do something for the Lord, but we want to do something big and important right away. But if we are not ready for it, it can cause trouble for us, just as it did for Asahel. Asahel could run fast, but he was not as good a fighter as Abner, and thus he was killed. It would have been far better for Asahel to do something else, rather than try to do something beyond his ability, and then to die. Let us be content to do what the Lord gives us to do, and wait until we are more mature as Christians. Then perhaps the Lord will give us greater things to do.

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Growing in Grace Blog by Bible Truth Publishers

“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee” (Proverbs 25:21-22).

“Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head” (Romans 12:20).

God thought that this verse was so important that He put it in both the Old and the New Testaments. But have you ever wondered what it means to heap coals of fire on someone’s head? Does it really mean to put hot coals on someone’s head, and burn them? No, that is not what it means.

Back before matches were invented, it was important for people to keep their fires burning constantly, so that they did not go out. Some people knew how to make a fire by rubbing two dry sticks of wood together, but many did not know how to do this. If they allowed their fire to go out, most people had to go to the nearest neighbor and get some hot coals to restart their fire. Usually the hot coals were carried in a container on the head of the person, for most people in the east carry loads on their heads. The container with the hot coals would rest on a special roll of cloth, shaped like a big donut, so that it did not burn the person who was carrying it.

If a neighbor came for some hot coals to restart his or her fire, some people would give out only a very few, and then he or she would have to hurry home before the coals went out. But a generous neighbor would give plenty of coals, heaping them up, so that they would stay hot. If someone was your enemy and had not been nice to you, it would be tempting to give him just a few coals. But the Lord tells us to do good to our enemies, for this is the way God has treated us. He has sent His Son to save us when we were His enemies. Now we are to show the character of God in dealing with our enemies. Then perhaps they will want to listen to the gospel and get saved!

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Growing in Grace Blog by Bible Truth Publishers

“Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

Two days ago I told you a story about a man named George Wishart, who gave up his life for the Lord in Scotland, back in the year 1546. Let me tell you about another man, or rather a teenager, who also gave up his life for the Lord in England about the same time.

His name was William Hunter, and he lived in England, in the town of Brentwood, in the county of Essex. He was a faithful Christian and had lost his job in London as a silk weaver because he refused to attend mass at the Roman Catholic Church. He came back to Brentwood where he lived with his father and mother, but he went to the Brentwood chapel from time to time to read the Bible, as very few people had Bibles of their own in those days. Through reading the Bible he had already come to know the Lord Jesus as his Savior, and he wanted to know more. One day he was caught reading the Bible, which was a punishable offence in those days, and the Roman Catholic authorities demanded that he be put to death.

He was eventually taken before one of the bishops in London, but he held his ground firmly, and would not submit to what he knew was contrary to the Word of God. After this he was imprisoned for nine months, and given the chance to “recant” or give up what he had learned from reading the Bible. But he remained faithful and did not give in. Finally he was condemned to be burnt to death in Brentwood, and this was carried out on March 26, 1555. William Hunter was only nineteen years old.

There is a monument there in Brentwood, on the spot where William Hunter was burned to death. If you are ever in England, it is worth a visit, just as the place in St. Andrews, Scotland, where George Wishart died, is worth a visit. My wife and I were able visit Brentwood and see the place some years ago. The writing on the monument reads as follows:

WILLIAM HUNTER. MARTYR. Committed to the Flames March 26th MDLV. Christian Reader, learn from his example to value the privilege of an open Bible. And be careful to maintain it.

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Growing in Grace Blog by Bible Truth Publishers

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye” (Psalm 32:8).

The Lord is willing to instruct us and teach us which way we should go, and sometimes He does this when we do not even realize that He is gently leading us a certain way. Let me tell you the story of a boy who was born back in Germany in 1907, and who was seven years old when World War I broke out in 1914. Life was hard in Germany in those days, and it became harder for him after the war started. They seldom had enough to eat, and as the war went on and it became evident that Germany was going to lose, things became much more difficult. At one point he was sent away from his parents by the German government, with many other children, in order to try and keep them safe from the full effects of the war. Naturally he was very lonely and did not know whether he would ever see his family again. Eventually, when the war ended, he was reunited with them, and found that they were all safe.

But the Lord had His eye on that little boy, and after the war, when things were still going badly in Germany, he had a chance to immigrate to Canada. Many farmers in Canada and the U.S.A. were advertising for young men to come from Europe and help with farm work. He came over in 1927 at the age of nineteen, all by himself. He had been brought up in a Christian home in Germany, and the Lord arranged for him to come to a Christian family in Canada, where he worked on their farm. During his time with them he got the assurance of his salvation, and grew in his soul. In all of these developments it was clear that the Lord was guiding his steps, and arranging things for him.

Then he began to wonder which group of Christians he should meet with. Well, he thought, I was saved through reading my Bible; if I keep on reading my Bible, it should show me where I should gather with other Christians. He read and learned the precious truth of gathering on the basis that all Christians are members of the body of Christ, and thus should all come together and worship in this way. Eventually he married a girl whose family had emigrated from England, and who was also gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus. That little German boy was my father, and he had interesting stories to tell us.

The Lord often works this way in our lives too. He loves you, and has His eye on you as well. He wants to arrange your life for you, not only for His honor, but for your blessing. We can be assured that for the believer, “all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28). Things may seem to be going badly for us at times, but the Lord is using all this for our help and blessing.

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Growing in Grace Blog by Bible Truth Publishers

“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29).

Down through the ages since the Lord Jesus died, many Christians have suffered for the name of Christ. Sometimes it is good for us to know how some of them suffered. Back in the year 1546, a young man named George Wishart lived in Scotland, and preached the gospel. He was only 33 years old, yet he was well-known, and was much used in bringing souls to Christ. However, the Roman Catholic Church was strong at that time, and he was arrested and condemned to death for preaching doctrines contrary to the Roman church.

For approximately a month before he was executed he was kept in a prison (shaped like a large bottle) in St. Andrews, Scotland. The prison had a narrow neck about six feet wide (about two meters), which then opened up into a larger underground prison. He would have been let down into it by a rope. It was likely quite dark in there much of the time, and was not a nice place to be.

On the day when he was to be tied to a stake and burnt to death, the captain of the soldiers, who was a Christian (but who had to obey orders), asked George Wishart if he had any last wish. Wishart thought for a moment, and then said, “I would like to break bread one last time with the other Christians I know here.” The captain was able to arrange it, and one of the Christians who was there said it was a most wonderful time. George Wishart himself gave thanks for the loaf and the cup, and they all partook of it. Then a short time later Wishart laid down his life for the Lord.

Maybe you will never have the chance to go there, but if you go to St. Andrews, Scotland, you can see a circle drawn on the street where George Wishart was burnt to death for his faith, and you can still visit the bottle-shaped prison where he was kept. It is a solemn reminder of how difficult it was to be a true Christian back then! But the Bible says that “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). If we live for the Lord in this world, we will suffer persecution of some kind or other. We should be prepared for it.

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Growing in Grace Blog by Bible Truth Publishers

“And now I [Gamaliel] say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught [nothing]: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply [possibly] ye be found even to fight against God” (Acts 5:38-39).

It is a very serious thing to fight against God, yet men have tried to do this many times. Back in the beginning of man’s history in this world, Cain thought that he could argue with God, and even lie to Him. Later on, when Noah preached about coming judgment, people made fun of him and did not believe him. Then, when the flood came, they all perished. Many other times in the Bible men thought they could resist God, but it did not work.

In our verses today, the chief priests and leaders of the Jews were determined not to allow the apostles to preach in the name of the Lord Jesus. God did many miracles to show them that all this was His work. Many people were healed of diseases, and when Peter and John were arrested and put in a prison, the angel of the Lord came at night and opened the prison doors, to let them out. Yet still the leaders of the people wanted to kill them.

Finally a well-known leader named Gamaliel told them that they had better let Peter and John alone. He had seen the power of God, and although there is no evidence that he got saved, yet he could recognize divine power. He realized that God was working, and that man could not resist God. For the moment the other leaders agreed to this, as they did not know what to do. Yet they still beat the apostles and commanded them not to speak in the name of the Lord Jesus.

We do not see miracles of healing today in the same way, but the power of God is clearly shown out in the preaching of the gospel, in the way people’s lives are changed. Yet many still think they can fight against God by forbidding people to read the Bible, by persecuting Christians, and by trying to prevent the preaching of the gospel. But God will always win, and even though some Christians are still put in prison, and some are killed, yet the gospel is spreading more than ever before. Remember, if you are a true Christian, you are always on the winning side!

After the Lord comes and takes every true Christian home to be with Him, armies of various nations will actually come out and think that they can fight against the Lord Jesus. We will not give details here, but this shows how man will become so proud and overconfident that he will think he can defeat God in battle. It will be an awful judgment when God destroys them.

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Growing in Grace Blog by Bible Truth Publishers

“Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?” (Matthew 27:17).

“Choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:15).

Choices! Every day we face them over and over. Most are not very important. But some are a matter of life and death. And our eternity.

Today’s verse in Matthew 27 is part of the story of our Lord’s crucifixion. It seems that each year at Passover time, it was the custom for the Roman governor to release to the people one of the prisoners from the jail in Jerusalem. I would imagine that then, as now, some of those being held were not guilty of the crimes of which they had been accused. Perhaps this would be a chance to give one of the better prisoners a chance at freedom.

Pilate (the governor) was making a choice that day, as were all the Jews of the city. Pilate knew in the depths of his heart that Jesus was not guilty of any crime, and that He was a good man. Of course, we know He was more than that! Verse 18 tells us that Pilate knew that Jesus was there because the crowd was full of envy. Envy is a terrible sin. Even Pilate’s wife had troubling dreams that night, telling her that Jesus was a “just” man.

So Pilate had a choice to make. Deep down inside I think he wanted the Lord Jesus to go free. So he found the worst criminal in the prison, a man named Barabbas, and gave the people the choice between him and Jesus. Quite likely he thought that at least Jesus now had a chance of being the One chosen. But “almost” to choose right is to choose wrong. The people all cried out, “not this Man, but Barabbas.” Their eternal destiny was in that cry. Naturally, our hearts are no better.

We know the touching and painful story of what our Lord suffered there on the cross. His blood was shed by the soldier’s spear. Later He was put into a tomb. But the wonder of the whole story is that he rose again! And now He can offer forgiveness to any and all who will repent and come to Him in faith. Yes, even those who were determined to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus could have repented and been met by His love and forgiveness. It is a choice.

Our second verse presents another choice. We can have accepted Him as our Savior, and yet not choose to serve Him. We will spend an eternity with the Lord Jesus in heaven. We pray that His wonderful love will draw each of us to want to spend our time on this earth close to Him, and serving Him.

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Growing in Grace Blog by Bible Truth Publishers