The Spirit

Today we hear the story of Stephen.  We hear of him preaching with wisdom and eloquence.  We also hear of the 'disturbance' he creates among the leaders and elders with his preaching.  Naturally they are out to get him.  They try their common weapon: public debate.  But when they cannot get the better of him, they decide to notch up their attempts.  This time they put up fake witnesses.  And lo and behold, they get him!

Surprising!  In the old Testament we hear of Daniel coming to the rescue of Susanna.  He takes up her case and saves her from a false accusation and evident death.  It is the same Spirit that moves Daniel that is in Stephen too.  But this time round, Stephen is not so lucky.

How and why is it that sometimes Spirit-led people are successful and at other times, utterly lose - even their lives?  I think it is not about 'success' or 'failure'.  That perhaps is not the best measuring rod of the work of the Spirit.  It is not a magic formula that conjures up success by mere presence or invocation.  The Spirit is something - someone? - who moves us to do the right thing.  The Spirit is not something or someone that magically produces the end result or the fruit, without having put ourselves through the motion.  The Spirit inspires!