THE SEND: Luke & ActsSample

What does it look like to be fully convinced of who Jesus is?

I don’t know what your story with Jesus is. Maybe you have walked with him for a while, or maybe you’re only just starting. Wherever you are on your journey of following Jesus, the call is still the same.

All through the Gospel of Luke, we saw Jesus calling his followers to give their lives completely over to him. But what does that really mean?

In Acts 6-7, we read the story of a man who gave up his life for Jesus—quite literally. Now, I’m not saying we all need to be killed for our faith, but I wonder if, as we read Stephen’s story today, we can allow his life to provoke something within us.

You see, Stephen didn’t choose Jesus because it was the easy or comfortable option. He wasn’t following him for the membership benefits. Stephen chose Jesus and could continue to choose Jesus because he was convinced that he was who he says he is. He knew Jesus was the promised Prophet (Acts 7:37), the Righteous One (Acts 7:52), the Son of Man (Acts 7:56), and his Lord (Acts 7:59).

After being falsely accused by the religious leaders, Stephen gives a bold defense of the Christian faith. And the interesting part about it all is that he doesn’t begin to panic when the people don’t take his side. Rather, he simply entrusts his life to God’s hands, not letting go of what he knew to be true.

Stephen wasn’t saying something to stay safe or sound spiritual. His message was the true cry of his heart, what he really believed. Stephen was fully convinced of who Jesus is, and his life proved it.

In Luke 17:33, Jesus says these words: “Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.”

The call to Jesus’ followers has always been this: don’t hold tightly to this life —hold tightly to the hope of the Gospel. Hold tightly to him.

What would your life look like if you were fully convinced of who Jesus says he is? Is there part of Jesus that you struggle to fully believe? What could it look like to bring those things to God today?