We look at the life of Stephen as he was speaking as a Christian. Those around him became enraged and then began picking up rocks to deliver a punishing death. They hit him with roughly baseball size stones until he was dead.
Stephen didn't stop being a Christian. He didn't take his words back or try to talk his way out the situation. He didn't hide his Christianity in the crowd. Why? The answer is Christmas. A new birth, born again into a new life. Stephen knew Christ came to set us free. Free of the past. Free of our mistakes and failures. Free of our sins and free of death itself.
Christ said that those He set free were free indeed. He frees us what others called us in the past. Free from who we were. Free from previous disappointments and pain. We are no longer the sum total of our failures. The difference of making a new me with Christ is that, when we accept Jesus, He fills us with His Spirit. He takes us where we are at, and sets out a new path for us. He is able to take our past and use it for our good. At the time we accept Jesus, He lays out a new life plan for us. A plan He says, is for our good. Christ's promise to us is to supply our needs. He promises our success and brings us His blessings. These are His words to us and His promise to us. I am free to chose whatever lifestyle. Free to choose what I watch and say and to do whatever I please. However, He helps me make the right decisions. And He leads me to the success I could not achieve on my own.
Choose to accept the invitation of Jesus. Join life with Him, and allow His promise to lead you down a path of fulfillment, adventure, peace, joy and ultimately life. Everlasting.
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