Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.

–Parallel verses:
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭10‬-‭14‬
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

In boxing, many fighters like to have a powerful combination of punches to take down their opponents. There is the jab, the cross, the hook, and the uppercut. One punch sets up the other.

In the spiritual world, when we go to battle, we have skills and qualities that make us effective. I like to think Stephen had a great one-two punch of God’s grace and power.

Grace is an agent that disarms the defenses of the spiritual seeker’s heart. People are surprised in this selfish world to find someone who is willing to distribute grace. Grace is the giving of a gift you don’t deserve. Generosity is also a close cousin to grace.

So we see Stephen impact those around him, exhibiting God’s grace as he served. He was appointed to help take care of the widows. So what would this grace have looked like? Maybe he blessed them in ways beyond mere food provision. He could have organized home repairs, healthcare, jobs for them, etc. This grace not only stayed in the church for its widows, it expanded to his community. How do I know this … because he was “full of God’s grace”. It poured out of him like a fountain!

And he was full of God’s power. How? Because he kept his heart pure and built a personal relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ.

Stephen had God’s power because he knew Jesus. Jesus knew God and told his disciples that he is in God and we are in him if we believe him and obey him. So we can ask for whatever is on our heart, because the things on our heart, by definition, will be on God’s heart if we are his obedient disciples.

This is why Stephen was able to serve God by performing miracles, signs and wonders — God gave him the ability. God gives us extra abilities when we diligently seek him. His Spirit enables us to be more effective in ministry.

What do I seek after in this life? What could be a better pursuit than to pursue the living God?

Lord, thank you that Stephen was an obedient servant and you blessed him with your grace and miraculous power. I will never stop relentlessly pursuing you. Thank you for all of the ways you have blessed me too!