The second day of Christmas is also called Boxing Day. It remembers St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
Scripture: Acts 7:54-60
Devotion:
At first glance, our song and our Scripture may seem to clash. As we read about the stoning and martyrdom of Stephen, how can we sing a song about being merry? Stephen died because he professed Jesus as the Messiah. He died for this belief. So it seemed fitting to choose a song for today that calls on us to not be dismayed or frightened due to the circumstances around us, because we recall Jesus was born. This song reminds us that Jesus came to heal our sorrows and take away our sins. This is the Gospel, the Good News, that Stephen professed before his death. So even as we mourn the deaths of martyrs, we rejoice in the Good News we can also proclaim.
When we put our faith in Jesus, we are called to fix our eyes on Him throughout our trials and tribulations. The song tells us to let nothing dismay us because Jesus was born. Yes, this has been a brutal year, as we have seen our world ravaged by a pandemic and rocked by protests against racial injustice. But we are not dismayed, because we have hope. We know that wrongs will be righted and injustices will be remedied.
Yes, there is a lot in this world that is scary and frightening, yet as Christians, we are called to let nothing "affright" us, to borrow from the song, as we choose to trust in God despite the scary things happening around us. Stephen could have been frightened by the threats of the Jewish leaders and recanted his testimony, but he didn't buckle under the pressure. His faith in Jesus held during his trial and subsequent execution.
The song reminds us that Jesus came to heal our sorrows and take away our sins. This is the Good News of the Gospel. We experience sorrows and the consequences of our sins, but Jesus came to heal us in our brokenness. He came to free us from our sins, as He calls us to walk in obedience to His teachings.
Challenge:
Take time to reflect on Christian martyrs who were faithful to the end. Thank God for their example and faithfulness. Then pray for those who are currently experiencing persecution. Pray that, like Stephen, they will stay faithful even if their faith costs them their lives. Pray for them to boldly proclaim the Gospel to those around them who are separated from God.
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