Stephen: Radically Loyal

“Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke. ... They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.” (Acts 6:8-10, 12, BSB)

“They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. ... While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”(Acts 7:58-60, BSB)

Jesus proclaimed there is no greater love than dying for someone (John 15:13). Today, Stephen is renowned as the first Christian martyr.

Before that defining moment, he was a man full of the Spirit and of faith, flowing in signs and miracles. Even before that, he was a servant for the Lord, waiting on tables. Before Stephen was ever considered ‘great,’ he was radically loyal.

Day after day, he came to serve the widows. When he started moving in power, he continued to be faithful and humble. He spoke with boldness before his accusers, unashamed and full of wisdom. 

It was his radical loyalty to Jesus that kept him through transitions and trials; it was his radical loyalty that enabled him to live, fight, and die for the cause of Christ.

This radical loyalty is powerful. It’s a loyalty willing to suffer for the sake of another. It’s a loyalty that doesn’t resent giving up the greatest treasures in life, or even life itself, if so doing will help the one you love.

Radical loyalty refuses to back down, give up, or bail out on someone or something. Radical loyalty is relentless. Because of its undying, unfailing nature, radical loyalty changes things. It makes history.

Stephen had no idea that his death would open doors. He didn’t know that his sacrifice would spur persecution of the church, which ironically led to growth and expansion rather than decimation.

He was not aware that thousands of years later, people would remember his life and be inspired by his crazy surrender to Christ. But here we are, reviewing events and receiving life from one man’s obedience.

Obedience is costly. Radical loyalty doesn’t shrink back from the cost.

How many people throughout the years – and even today – have drawn strength from Stephen’s martyrdom as they faced their own? Did Joan of Arc remember Stephen as she was led to her stake? What about Polycarp, William Tyndale, and Jim Elliot?

What about the 21 men killed by ISIL in Egypt nearly four years ago (February 2015)? What about present day Christians in North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, or Somalia, whose lives are at risk every day?

Did these people (and do these people) take courage knowing that Stephen didn’t back down from the risk of following Jesus? Were (and are) they inspired by his obedient sacrifice?

What will following Jesus cost you? Are you willing to pay that price? Are you willing to be so radically loyal that your answer to the Father is always ‘yes?’

If you will give your all, your best, your very life to Jesus, you will see mountains move. You will see opposition bow before the King. You will see change, in your life and others.

When you choose unrelenting loyalty, you leave behind a legacy. You set precedence. The length of your loyalty will serve as a launching pad for those who come after you. How far is your loyalty willing to go?