What's Written on Your Face?
Today’s Verse:
And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. ~Acts 6:15
“Written on your face” is an idiom that means your facial expression tells the person looking at you what is concerning to you at the moment. It is a message you convey by your facial expression. Our faces can speak a thousand words. We are told that the council of Pharisees saw Stephen’s face as it had been the face of an angel. I don’t think any of those men had ever encountered an angel, but they knew enough about angels to make a powerful description of what they saw when looked at Stephen.
We see that Stephen was holy.
His face indicated the closeness of his relationship with God. We repeatedly read that Stephen was a man of faith and power. His testimony within the congregation was that he was a man of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom. Prior to Stephen, we read that when the Sanhedrin looked at Peter and John, they saw that they had been with Jesus. A holy life is a life that depicts a transformation that is on the inside. Stephen’s face resembled the face of an angel. It was a compliment to his inner character.
We see that Stephen was happy.
Someone who is holy is someone who is happy. First, he is someone who is pleasing to God. Stephen did God’s will from the heart. Second, he is someone who is a blessing in his service to others. Stephen enjoyed serving others and, in fact, saw changes in others because of his contribution. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. Stephen’s testimony resulted in this great company of priests getting converted. Stephen found his happiness in bringing others to Christ on a consistent basis.
We see that Stephen was heavy.
What I mean by this is that he was burdened in his preaching. We are told that the Jews could not resist “the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.” He was well-versed and Spirit-filled in his preaching. In Acts 7, we have the record of his final sermon that he preached. It was a powerful sermon saturated with God and the history of Israel from the Old Testament. He knew that he was preaching to an antagonistic audience, but he preached from a heavy heart. He wanted to see them saved. As he preached, he watched as the faces of these Jews showed hatred and resistance. He set his face like a flint and preached with greater boldness and intent. He preached like an angel sent from Heaven would preach.
We see that Stephen was heavenward.
The Jews had enough of his preaching and moved to stone him. Sensing what they were going to do, he lifted his eyes heavenward and saw the Lord Jesus standing. I believe that Jesus stood to welcome Stephen home. Stephen’s face indicated he was unafraid of the Jews and death. His face was not looking at his accusers but at his ascent. His face was not looking at his enemies but at eternity. His face was not looking at his death but at his departure. His face was not looking at his problem but at his promotion.
Stephen looked as if he had the face of an angel. What do others see in your face? What does your face indicate about your walk with the Lord and your love for serving Him?
Have a Christ-centered God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 2 Kings 9-11