This Is the Way: A 30-Day Journey Through the Book of ActsSample

A Glimpse of His Glory

By Hannah Etsebeth

But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. —Acts 7:55-60 (ESV)

I used to be a runner. I was in my mid-twenties, my knees still worked, and I loved running long distances. The peacefulness of a fall evening jog was my favorite. On one such evening run, I was reflecting on how much I wanted to make a difference in the world. What began as an honest prayer quickly took a dark turn. I began looking at all the homes around me with their lights twinkling in the stillness of the night, and my contemplation on what I wanted to do for God turned to, And what are these people doing with their lives?! Gross, I know.

As I judged complete strangers in this familiar neighborhood, the conviction of the Holy Spirit fell on me. In my mind’s eye, I saw my friend’s mom who lived in this neighborhood sitting in her prayer chair. Having raised seven kids of her own, she also took in their friends and loved them well. She was a safe place for the neighborhood . . . and boy, did she pray. The judgment I had so quickly offered to complete strangers and accidentally to one of the most faithful followers of Christ revealed a window into my own heart, and I repented.

In Acts 7, we see a man who has every reason to judge, yet he does not. Surrounded by the Sanhedrin (the religious elites of the time), Stephen boldly and powerfully proclaims the gospel to those around him. In his response to their accusations, he weaves in the history found in the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament regarded as true Scripture by the religious leaders of his day). He speaks as a theologian with conviction and authority. But when he concludes, there is no powerful response to an altar call as we would hope. Instead, “blasphemy” is declared, and stones are violently hurled at this man, this servant of Christ. The glaring faces of the religious crowd stand in stark contrast to the radiance on Stephen’s face.

Seeing the glory of God in front of him, Stephen declares, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” (Acts 7:60). Stephen’s words weren’t from a man who was simply on a higher plane than all of us. No, this man had just witnessed the glory of the Lord (see Acts 7:55). When we gaze upon God’s glory, it’s impossible to stand in judgment against our accusers, our enemies, the lost, and the saved.

We read in Exodus 33:18–19 (ESV) that Moses said to God: “‘Please show me your glory.’ And he said, ‘I will make mygoodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name “TheLord.” And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.’” If you continue reading in Exodus 34, you’ll learn that when God’s glory passed by Moses, he saw both the extravagance of His attributes and a mirror into his own iniquities and failings. In that divine moment, Moses saw a God who is rich in mercy. As God’s glory is revealed, so is His mercy and grace!

When Stephen looked into heaven and saw the glory of the Lord, he gained a purified perspective of himself and those around him. When the accusers and abusers glared at him in hate, Stephen looked back at them with mercy and grace. Having seen the glory of the Lord, he ached for them to see it as well.

Judgment is not ours. In fact, it is something we must resist with every fiber of our being. Let’s instead look to God and ask that we might see His glory and be filled with His mercy and grace so we may contend for His kingdom to come upon this earth.

Prayer

Lord, help me see Your glory in my daily life as Stephen did so I may respond to others with mercy and grace rather than judgment. Purify my perspective and give me boldness to love as You have loved me. May Your Spirit guide me to live with compassion, reflecting Your kingdom here on earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Activation

• Ask the Lord to reveal any areas of judgment in your heart, even those you’ve unknowingly held onto. Ask God for forgiveness and to replace any judgment with His mercy and grace.
• Think of a time when you deserved judgment, but you received grace and mercy instead. Thank God for His extravagant and never-ending grace and mercy.
• Set aside intentional time to gaze upon God’s glory—whether through Scripture, worship, or quiet reflection. Ask God to show you His glory, purify your perspective, and transform the way you see yourself and others through His eyes.

For Further Study

Acts 7; Exodus 33:18–23; Exodus 34; Matthew 7:1; John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:4–5; 1 Peter 4:14; James 4:6

Holy Spirit, what are you saying to me?