Tuesday, June 14 – Acts 6:9-10

But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. But they were unable to cope with his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.

After performing signs and wonders, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Stephen was met with what we may view as an unexpected response. While the response from those in the Synagogue may seem unexpected, it was a moment Stephen was equipped for through the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that gave Stephen the power to perform the miracles moments before gave him wisdom as he was on trial.

At each step, the Lord prepared Stephen. Do we trust God to do the same in our lives? What would it look like if we trusted the Lord to work through us whether we are in the middle of sharing our faith or in the middle of an argument? God is all-consuming, and He does not equip us for great things while abandoning us in the hard things. He is always leading us as we follow Him. Knowing who He is and how He worked in moments like these should encourage us that regardless of the circumstances, we do not have to be afraid. If you are a follower of Jesus, the same Spirit that filled Stephen and equipped him for the wonderful and trying moments lives in you. In His Word and by His Spirit, He has equipped you with wisdom for every circumstance. Let’s seek to be in tune with His Spirit and walk in His wisdom with those we encounter today.

• When have you seen God work through you even though you felt unprepared? What was that like?
• How should the power and presence of God change how we deal with conflict?
• Pray and thank God that He is faithful to us in times of fruitfulness and times of opposition.