Making the most of your hyphen
Acts 6:1-7:2a; 7:51-69
A hyphen is a dash between numbers. In terms of dates it signifies the time between the beginning and the end of something, as in the case of J.F. Kennedy’s gravestone which says 1917-1963.
We are living in the gap between two appointments. It is a privilege and an opportunity. What are you going to do with your hyphen? What are you going to fill it with? Are you going to use the hyphen of your life to count for something? Are you going to serve the Lord throughout your hyphen? God can make so much more than we can out of the hyphen in our lives.
Eventually there will be a tombstone with our name and the dates of our birth and death on it. Many wish that they had made their lives worth something. God wants each one if us to make the most of our lives and the gifts He has given us. One day we will have to give an account for how we have used our hyphen. Will you just be a clashing cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1)? How much of the fruit of the Holy Spirit will there have been in your life (Galatians 5:22-23)? How much righteousness will there have been in your hyphen?
How did Stephen make the most of his hyphen:
- Stephen was a Christian – You cannot fulfil the hyphen in your life without Jesus. Jesus gives fulness of life (John 10:10). Have you become a Christian? Is Jesus truly the Lord of your life?
- Stephen was full of faith – Stephen put his whole trust in Jesus. Without faith it is impossible to please Gid (Hebrews 11:6).
- Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit – God lived within Stephen. Stephen was born again by the Holy Spirit. He did not settle for a little bit, he was full of the Holy Spirit.
- Stephen was full of grace and power – Stephen was used mightily by God, who performed many miracles through him. God’s power was at work through Stephen. God’s power touched everyone around Stephen.
- Stephen was a man of action – He was willing to serve at tables so the leaders of the church could concentrate on their ministry.
- Stephen was Christlike – Jesus was full of faith, full of the Holy Spirit, full of grace and power and a man of action. Stephen was all these thing and was willing to die for what he believed. Stephen prayed for his murderers as he was dying just as Jes did on the cross. Are you using your hyphen to be more like Jesus (Romans 12:1-2)? Are we willing to be soft clay that God can mould into who He wants us to be (Jeremiah 18:6)?