March 20 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

The death of Jesus and the death of Stephen are much alike. The Holy Spirit told us the story of Stephen's death to show us how disciples can learn from their teacher. Stephen had learned from Jesus how we must pray: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And Stephen had learned how to die: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

But there is one important difference between the last words of Jesus and the last words of Stephen. Jesus prayed to God his Father: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." Stephen spoke to Christ: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Jesus prayed to God the Father; Stephen prayed to God the Son.

What we meet here is not just a problem. Problems can be solved. We have come to the greatest mystery of the Bible—the being of God himself!

Throughout the Old and New Testaments, we are taught to believe in the one and only God of heaven and earth. At the same time, the name of Jesus (especially "Lord Jesus"), is used freely when the only God is addressed. Yet we are never allowed to think of God as more than one; any hint in that direction is rejected.

There is much about God's existence that we do not understand. We must confess that the God to whom Jesus prayed and the God on whom Stephen called are the same God, for God is one. And Jesus was both truly God and truly man.

You and I are not the first ones who are perplexed by this difference in unity. Throughout the centuries, believers have struggled to put this mystery into words. And although words aren't quite capable of saying who God is, the church has finally formulated its faith in the holy Trin­ity or Three-Unity. God exists in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Yet God is one.

This teaching is not an addition to the Bible. It is a reverent reflection on what the Bible tells us about God. You come to the teaching of the Trinity when you think deeply about the moving prayers of Jesus and Stephen.

REFLECTIONS

What questions would you like to ask God about God?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.