WHAT IS YOUR FOCUS ON?
Jesus said, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62 NIV). Stephen was extremely focused in his walk with Jesus. He stayed the course, because he understood there was no turning back once he put his hands to the plow. The Scripture uses the example of a farmer plowing his field. The farmer knew he had to stay focused and not look behind him or else he would get off course and plow crooked lines.
Stephen put his hands to the plow and raced toward the destiny God had for him. He accepted his assignment willingly, even in the face of death. He was absolutely focused on his course and did not take his eyes off the One who saved him. He set his face like flint and boldly told the story of Jesus Christ whom the Jews had crucified. Stephen understood that he had a destiny and was determined to not miss it. He raced toward his destiny with determination and boldness and embraced all that God assigned to him. Stephen fulfilled his destiny by boldly facing the enemies of Jesus Christ and speaking the truth to them.
“And now you have betrayed and murdered him — you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels, but have not obeyed it. When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.” — Acts 7:52b-60 (NIV)
Did you hear and feel Stephen’s passion and conviction in these verses? Did you see his servant’s heart? God gave Stephen a revelation while the people were stoning him. Stephen saw Jesus, the Son of Man, standing. The Bible says that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, but in this instance, He was standing because He saw a man after His own heart. When Stephen forgave the ones who were stoning him, he received a revelation of Jesus as the Son of Man, our Redeemer. Jesus was the only one who ever referred to Himself as the Son of Man, meaning he was both divine and human. Both Joan E. Murray of these natures were embodied in Him. Mark 2:10 tells us that only the Son of Man had power to forgive sins, and as our Redeemer, Jesus forgives sins.
In the Old Testament, Jesus is a type of the Kinsman Redeemer. A Kinsman Redeemer was a blood relative who would pay the price to rescue and redeem family members from hardship. In some cases, as seen in the Book of Ruth, this person would even marry the deceased relative’s widow to preserve the family name and leave them a legacy. Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of Man, because He had to be human to shed His blood and relate us back to God. Only in His human nature and not in His divine nature, could His blood be shed to forgive sins. Jesus came as our Kinsman Redeemer to pay the price and relate us back to God because He is our blood relative, our elder brother. Stephen was given this inside revelation of who Jesus really is as he lay dying for the cause of Christ. Stephen saw Jesus — who was generally seated next to the Father — standing, because Jesus was witnessing the death of a man who had the heart of a servant, a heart just like His.
As Stephen died, he demonstrated how truly like Christ his heart was. He forgave those who were stoning him, just as Jesus also forgave those who nailed Him to the cross of Calvary. Stephen was truly connected to the heart of God.
In order for you and me to have a heart like Stephen, the heart of a servant, we must give ourselves totally over to God. Understand your history with God and know that He will do for you all that He did for those 48 Reconnect men and women in the Bible. Let the world know that you cannot accomplish a single thing without God’s help. Show them how totally dependent you are on His grace and mercy by allowing Him to step into the difficult situations you are in and wrap His arms of love, mercy, and grace around you to bring healing in the difficulties. When you make a decision to embrace all the plans of God for your life, be determined and steadfast. Set your face like flint as you race toward your destiny. Don’t just stumble into your destiny by accident; pursue God so He can reveal it to you, and when He does, embrace all of it.
When you put your hands to the plow, go all the way with God. Do not look backwards. Do not take your eyes off Jesus, because all God has for you is in front and not behind you. He said to forget those things which are behind, and to reach for those things which are before you, to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13). As you develop the heart of a servant, you will begin to look just like Christ and will readily forgive people when they hurt or disappoint you. Like Stephen, do everything you can so you will not miss the joy of knowing that one day Jesus will stand up from His throne to cheer you on as He welcomes you home. I can hear Him saying to you, “Job well done. Job well done. Now, enter into the joy of the Lord!”