As the first martyr of the early church, we see a unique boldness in the character of Stephen. He is a man full of the Holy Spirit. He has a wisdom that cannot be argued with since he speaks the truth about Jesus. Still, he came up against an authority that did not like what he was saying -- true or not. The Jewish leaders brought him up on false charges, held a sham trial, and hauled him out to execute him by stoning.
We don't like to think much about persecution but it has become a reality for many in our world...and it's only growing across many places. In the United States, we realize that our freedoms to worship and preach the Gospel may not always be guaranteed. Are we prepared to stand up and speak out even if it is unpopular with the ruling authorities? We must make that decision now, long before we are ever in a place where our lives could be asked of us.