Martyrs

This powerful message takes us into the heart of the early church's struggle in Acts 6-7, where we witness Stephen's martyrdom and confront a challenging question: What does it truly cost to follow Jesus? We're reminded that the first Christians didn't just add Jesus to their lives—they surrendered everything to Him. Stephen, one of the first deacons chosen to care for the congregation, found himself falsely accused and brought before the religious leaders. Instead of defending himself, he boldly proclaimed God's truth, reviewing Israel's history of resistance to the Holy Spirit and ultimately pointing to Jesus as the Messiah they had rejected. His face glowed with God's presence even as stones were hurled at him. This account forces us to examine our own commitment: Are we sitting on the fence, trying to love both God and the world? Or are we willing to make Jesus our life mission, recognizing that following Him means separation from worldly values and potentially facing opposition? The sobering reality is that more Christians were martyred in the 20th century than in all previous centuries combined, yet the church continues to grow. While we in America may not face physical persecution, we're challenged to ask whether we're giving Jesus everything or just the leftovers of our time, energy, and devotion.