See and Say

Acts 7:56 NKJV

"and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"

(previously)

7:55 - "But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,"

Stephen's view is mentioned twice, not just for his comfort, or an acknowledgment of a job well done, but for a pure witness of Jesus.

    Stephen doesn't just see the glory of God and receive it for his much needed comfort, but speaks up and shares his heavenly view.  There is nothing to be gained by this announcement; if anything, Stephen's words only further stoked the Sanhedrin's fury.  He said "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" because it was true.  Stephen would not, could not deny the glory of God, even as the witnesses gathered heavy stones so as to inflict the maximum damage to his body.  And he is a faithful evangelist to the end; not just "I see" but "Look!" so YOU can see.  I imagine he shouted it.  Not "look, so therefore you won't stone me," a distraction or convicting words, but "look, so you can see!".

This is the training grounds.  Hiking the foothills to prepare for climbing to the summit.  I have nothing to compare to the intensity of Stephen's situation.  The true life or death trap of the Pharisees.  So if my examples of unease, discomfort are so small, why then do I struggle to see God's glory and announce it in the face of those who mock and do not believe?

Lord, help me stand, uncompromisingly for you.

Let me hear and heed your prompting in every situation.