Our introduction to Stephen in the Bible occurs in Acts 6, when the disciples chose seven to serve the widows in the daily distribution of food. Stephen is the only one of the seven who became prominent. We are told “Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8). This led to some unwanted attention and some men were induced to spread falsehoods about Stephen, who was arrested and brought before the high priest. He made no attempt to defend himself but launched a message with three points. None of this was an answer to the high priest’s question regarding the charges against him, “Are these things so?” Stephen’s first point was that the activity of God extends beyond the geographical borders of Israel. Second, he said that worship is acceptable to God extends beyond the walls of the Jerusalem temple. Third, he condemned the Jewish people for rejecting Jesus as Messiah. 

In discussing the third point, Stephen did not mince any words, calling his accusers “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, and you have now become betrayers and murderers of Him; you who received the Law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.” (7:51-53). For those comments, Stephen became the first Christian martyr, as he was stoned to death.

Looking at Stephen’s accusations that they were “Stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears.” What was Stephen saying here?

Stiff-necked. The term stiff-necked was familiar to the Jewish people as it was used in referring to an ox who was difficult or hard to control. Many times throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites were referred to as a stiff-necked people. They were seen as stubborn, unmanageable, and not to be led. Of course, God frequently referred to them as stiff-necked, even to the point of saying “I will not go up in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, and I might destroy you on the way.” (Exodus 33:3) 

Circumcision. Obviously, the high priest and the Council were familiar with this term, as a ritual undergone by Jewish males to set them apart. To be circumcised was a sign of honor, a means of identification. When circumcised. you became a part of “The Club.” When God established the covenant with Abraham, the patriarch was told “This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, including a slave who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants. A slave who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall certainly be circumcised; so My covenant shall be in your flesh as an everlasting covenant. But as for an uncircumcised male, one who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.” (Genesis 17:10-14). Note that the passage states that every man carries with him the sign of the covenant. If not circumcised, the man is cut off from his people.

Today, males are circumcised as a medical procedure to protect against penile cancer. God obviously knew this so He protected the men with a medical truth, while making it a spiritual matter as well.

True Circumcision. Paul, however, took another view of circumcision, relegating the historical reason for circumcision to the position of false circumcision.  In Philippians 3:2-3 he wrote “Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and take pride in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.” 

Christians are the true circumcision as our hearts have been transformed in a symbolic circumcision. False circumcision is a physical sign of belonging to the Israelite nation. True circumcision is a transformed heart that hears and responds to the convicting and guiding work of the Holy Spirit. Putting our faith in God. Additionally, the true circumcision is inclusive, available to all.

Stephen, Saul, and Us. Getting back to Stephen, his defense before the Council obviously occurred prior to Paul writing the book of Philippians and any of his other letters. Recalling that Stephen accused the Council of being “uncircumcised in heart and ears, and resisting the Holy Spirit.” Here Stephen was referring to the true circumcision. 

There is another aspect to this, and this is my speculation only. We read that Stephen was driven out of the city and was being stoned to death. Act 7:58 tells us that the witnesses laid aside their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.” Deuteronomy 10:16 reads “So circumcise your heart, and do not stiffen your neck any longer.”   Could Paul (Saul) have recalled this concept of the true circumcision during Stephen’s stoning?

Lessons from Stephen. Even though Stephen’s time as a Christian leader was not lengthy, he left us with some valuable lessons. First, he shows us that we are to obey the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Although there were thousands who had accepted the good news of the gospel, many others refused to do so. As a prime example of the Holy Spirit’s conviction, Stephen spoke the words given him by the Spirit when he was before the Council.

Second, Stephen emphasized God’s faithfulness. God kept every promise made to the Israelite nation. Even today, God continues to forgive our sins and give us the precious, priceless gift of eternal life to all who call upon Him. He never fails. He  keeps every promise.

Third, It is important to know scripture. Stephen, obviously, was not speaking from his notes but his heart. He was familiar with the word of God. Being prompted by the Holy Spirit, his accusers could offer no substantive arguments to the words he spoke. When we know God’s word, we can quote it to others and ascertain when scripture is being misused.

Being stiff-necked is not a physical issue. God can transform stubborn, unmanageable, unleadable people into Kingdom workers. God can grant us the true circumcision. These things can only happen when we are willing. When we submit, God will change us.

All scripture, unless otherwise noted is from the New American Standard Bible.

Photo credit for the stones picture goes to Alexandra_Koch.

Passion is a very versatile word. Although the etymology is complex, it derives from the Latin word, pati, to suffer. It was originally used to describe the sufferings of Christ in the hours between the Last Supper and the Crucifixion. For Christians, that definition still applies. The time from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday is known as Passion Week. However, over the years, the word has taken on additional, non-religious meanings. Passion can mean a strong, almost overpowering feeling or conviction. We often see this in a person’s political or religious convictions. It could be an outbreak of anger. We have all heard about crimes of passion. Passion could also be strong affection for another – love. Coupled with that definition, passion can mean sexual desire. Finally, passion can be a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept. It could be said that a person is passionate about the Tampa Bay Rays, exercise, or abortion. 

I once had a friend whose favorite statement was that there is nothing more obnoxious than a new convert to anything. While this may be an overstatement, people often do get passionate about their newest activity. Part of this is that when we are passionate about something, we want to help others have that same passion.

Christians and Passion. As Christians we need to be passionate about the right things. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy pleasurable things as much as anyone but we must keep things in the right perspective. I once knew an individual who desired a boat. Eventually, he was able to purchase one, and he and his family spent some enjoyable weekends on the lake. But after a while, he realized that the boat had become a passion that hampered his relationship with God. While spending weekends on the boat, he was missing out on worship and times with fellow Christians in his church. He realized he needed to sell the boat and did.

John Bunyan was a pastor who gave much thought to pleasures. He came to the realization that “desires are hunting things.”  In other words, when we seek pleasure we are on a treasure hunt of sorts to find a pleasure that will fill a void in our lives. Desires and pleasures are not all good or all bad. They may be pure or they may be evil. Bunyan once said that our “Love for God is more seen in desires than in any Christian act.” or, as my Mother would say “What you do speaks so loud I can’t hear what you say.” If you want to know what someone values, don’t listen to what they say, look at what they do.

When I became a runner, you could say that I became passionate about it. I read about running, I began to run in races, I sought out other runners to join me, I went to seminars on running. I had a hunger to do whatever I could do to make myself a better runner. I maintained a log of my runs. I even completed two marathons. I proudly wore my t-shirts that I got at my races. When I missed a few days running, I missed being out on the roads. You could say I was addicted.

Spiritual Discipline. We should carry that same passion that I had for running into our spiritual lives. We should do all we can to make ourselves better Christians. How is this done? We can make an intentional effort to practice spiritual disciplines. In our society we often use the word practice to describe our profession. I had a CPA practice. A medical doctor is said to practice medicine, an attorney practices law. In these cases, it is not a matter of practice making perfect, but a constant focus on learning more about your given profession and becoming the best CPA, doctor, or attorney that you can become. Likewise, practicing the spiritual disciplines can make us better Christians. My list of spiritual disciplines is likely different from others that you have seen but I would list six such disciplines or practices.

Know the Bible. Read it. Study it. Memorize it. Sing it. Pray it. Ponder it. The Bible is a book that must be used. You can’t put it under your pillow and expect the message to flow into you while sleeping. Many who have gone before us have written commentaries or other publications that can help us understand the Bible more fully. Beware that, just because it is written, it may not be valid. Anyone can write something. It is our responsibility to evaluate the writings of others to determine if it is consistent with what we know about the Bible. As we study more, we become more aware of any inconsistencies in the writings of others. All of these activities can help the words of the Bible be within us. 

Someone may say that Jesus said to listen to your heart. But Luke 12:34. Jesus said “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” And in Matthew 15:19, He spoke “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, acts of adultery, other immoral sexual acts, thefts, false testimonies, and slanderous statements.” If we know the Bible, we will know that Jesus didn’t say to listen to our hearts.

Generosity. The Bible has a lot to say about us being generous, more than we can cover in detail in this article. Malachi 3:10 reads “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse.” When we start talking about tithing, we tend to get legalistic. Is the tithe ten percent? Of my net or my gross? Do I have to give my tithe to my church?  All of this misses the point. We are to give bountifully, cheerfully, not reluctantly. 2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us “God loves a cheerful giver.” And in verse 11, we read “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” Although it begins there, our giving does not stop at the church. We are to give generously to those in need. All that we have is from God. We should use that to help others. The parable of the faithful steward in Luke 12:42-48 makes this abundantly clear. Give because you love God. And don’t worry about any tax deduction.

Fellowship. When the COVID epidemic hit, churches were not open for worship. We received much of our spiritual nourishment via online worship services. Unfortunately, too many found this to be convenient and made online worship the norm for them. This is unfortunate, as we are missing out on fellowship. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” By meeting together, we help others move closer to God as we also move in that direction.

Fasting. Unfortunately, this is a spiritual discipline that is often overlooked. But it should be part of our spiritual “arsenal.” Jesus said in Matthew 6:16-18 “When you fast,  do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” Two things stand out in these verses. One, Jesus said “when you fast,” not “if you fast.” He presumed we would fast. Second, our fasting is nothing to brag about. Fasting is between me and God. 

Fasting can include refraining from things other than food. This is especially helpful for anyone having a health condition that prohibits them from fasting. We know that Daniel (10:3) fasted from certain foods and wine for three weeks. We are also told (depending on the translation) that he did not anoint his head, shave, bathe, or comb his hair during those three weeks.

Obviously, we can give up something other than food during a fast. The key here is that we choose something meaningful, something that is a part of our regular life and that we enjoy. I could say that I am going to conduct a shellfish fast. That is meaningless, as I have a potentially fatal allergy to shellfish and never eat it. I would not be giving up anything in this case. When we fast, we can use that time to shape our experience and connection with God.

Prayer and Silence. We must never forget that prayer is a two-sided activity. We talk to God and He answers us. A prayer can be short. “Lord, Joe is going through a rough time right now. Meet his needs.” God already knows about Joe. You are one among many who are bringing concerns about Joe to God. I don’t understand how God works in prayer, but I know we are commanded to pray. Continued prayer for a specific request helps us recall the need, and maybe we will be the catalyst to meet that need. Earnest prayer brings a conviction that we are to be God’s instrument. 

The other side of prayer is waiting to hear God speak to us. When the Lord appeared to Elijah in 1 Kings 19, He was not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not in the fire. But God was in a gentle whisper. That’s how God came to Elijah. Elijah kept listening and God spoke. He came to Moses in a fire – the burning bush. Don’t presume how God will speak to you or answer your prayers. 

I am reminded of the story of a man who was caught in a flood. He made it to the roof of his house and prayed for God to rescue him. Some people came by in a boat and offered to save him. He declined. A helicopter came, and once again, he declined. When the man drowned, he faced God in Heaven. He asked God why his prayer wasn’t answered. God replied “I sent you a boat and a helicopter.” 

If you don’t keep an open mind you may miss his message for you. Earnestly seek Him. Wait for Him. His timing is not our timing. Matthew 7:7 tells us “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Spiritual Markers. These are not often thought of as spiritual disciplines, but I include them here because they can be a valuable tool in our spiritual journey, as they remind us of where we have been and how God brought us to where we are. Henry Blackaby identifies spiritual markers as “a time of decision when you clearly know that God guided you.” Kathy Howard defines them as “a tangible, physical object we deliberately choose to represent God’s significant presence and activity in our life. This “God event” could be a spiritual encounter, a clear call to service, a specific time of divine direction or intervention, a miraculous act, or more. This object will serve as a permanent reminder of what God has done in our lives or a time that He taught us something new about who He is or how He works.

I recall after my first wife, Gloria, died, I was going through her belongings. Some days I didn’t get much done, as I came across something that stirred memories and I found myself walking down memory lane. That’s how spiritual markers work. 

Spiritual markers can also help us to celebrate. I have a friend whose family seemingly celebrates all the time. I would call them great “celebrators.” I asked her about their celebratory events. She commented that family is special and celebrating their events shows how much the family cares for them, even in the time spent preparing for the celebration. But most of all, she focuses on the love, joy, kindness, and praise they give each other and to our Lord. Not only do they lift up family and loved ones, they are witnesses for Christ in their celebrations. 

Celebrating events in our lives can keep us grounded, can remind us of why we chose the path we chose. Several years ago, I was at a crossroads in my life. I needed to make several life-changing decisions. My church had a month-long period of fasting. I chose to fast on Tuesdays. During this time, I prayed about three major issues in my life. Before long, events came together and I got clarity on the direction I should go. That, for me, was a spiritual marker. 

As we have seen, there are many things about which we can be passionate.. Is there anything in your life about which you are more passionate than your relationship with God?

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the New American Standard Bible.

The number “40” is an interesting number. It is the only number in the English language whose letters appear in alphabetical order. Minus 40 degrees is the same in the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales. When the bubonic plague hit Europe in the Middle Ages, ships were held in the harbor for 40 days before passengers were allowed off the ship. The Italian word for 40 is “quaranta,” from which we get quarantine.

The Monopoly board has 40 spaces, making chances of winning the lottery equal to going to jail, 2.5% each time around the board. Forty is the maximum size of a Major League Baseball roster. WD-40 is so named as it was the 40th attempt to develop the product (WD actually stands for “water displacement”). A human pregnancy is actually pegged at 40 weeks. The story of Ali Baba and the Arabian Nights has 40 thieves. A good night’s sleep is said to be 40 winks. And, as we all know, the traditional workweek in the United  States is 40 hours. Maybe worst of all, someone has chronicled 40 changes to our bodies as we reach age forty. Getting old is definitely not for sissies.

But this isn’t about a bunch of trivia regarding the number 40. This number seems to be Biblical shorthand for a long time. There are several instances in the Bible where 40 comes into play. It may be any measurement of time, but 40 days is the most prevalent. Let’s examine a few of these cases from the Bible.

Noah. Genesis 6 begins the Biblical account of Noah and the flood. Man had become wicked and God vowed to wipe them from the face of the earth. But Noah was righteous before God, so God saved him and his family. God determined to flood the whole earth, wiping out life. He instructed Noah to build an ark, giving him detailed instructions. Noah obeyed. Rain on earth was unheard of prior to this time, as Genesis 2:5-6 indicates that no rain had fallen on the earth. Verse 6 tells us that “a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground.” Noah was certainly the subject of much ridicule, building a huge ark nowhere near a body of water. Yet he persevered. It has been estimated it took Noah between 20 and 40 years to build this massive ship. God had not told Noah the answer to the burning question “Why?” Noah had no idea what God was planning. Eventually, God told him to fill the ship and seven days later, the rains would commence. Only then do we know that Noah learned there would be 40 days and nights of rain. So maybe Noah’s 40-day trial of rain was in addition to 40 years of building.

Moses. As a member of the royal family in Egypt, Moses lived a life of privilege. He could easily have forgotten or ignored his Hebrew roots. Yet we are told in Exodus 2 that Moses went out among the Hebrews and saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. We are told Moses “looked this way and that, and when he saw that there was no one around, he struck and killed the Egyptian, and hid his body in the sand” (Exodus 2:12). The next day Moses saw two Hebrews fighting and tried to break it up. One of them said to him “Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian? (Exodus 2:14). Moses knew he had been found out, word spread, and Pharoah pledged to kill Moses, but Moses escaped to Midian. 

Moses made a life and lived in Midian in exile for 40 years. I suppose Moses was living a contented life. One day he was pasturing the flock of his father-in-law and noticed something different. He saw a bush, burning, but not consumed. He is recorded as saying “I must turn aside and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burning up!” (Exodus 3:3) As he approached, God called Moses from the bush. God told Moses He had an assignment for him. He told Moses that He (God) was going to free the Hebrews from their affliction in Egypt. Moses may have said or thought “Hey, that’s great, God. They’ve been oppressed for years.” Then God dropped the other shoe “I’m going to use you to do this. So head to Egypt, I’ll be with you all the way. Obviously, Moses’ 40 years in Midian was preparation for this monumental task as he knew the land well.

Israel. Imagine you’re a Hebrew slave who has just escaped Egypt and have seen what God did to set them free. “All right! We’re headed to the Promised Land. A land of milk and honey. Our troubles are over.” Not so fast. They became disgruntled. They became tired of traveling, tired of manna, tired of not having a place to call home. If you’ve ever taken a road trip with kids, the most common words you’ll probably hear are “I’m hungry” and “Are we there yet?” That was the Hebrews. About half-way through the journey Moses sent 12 scouts to check out the Promised Land. After 40 days, two scouts brought back favorable reports. The other ten were “Debbie Downers.” “We’ve come all this way just to fall into the hands of another oppressor” was their sentiment. They were not ready to stop and settle down, so God sent them on to wander 40 years. They needed preparation time.

David and Goliath. The Philistines were on the march. According to I Samuel 17, they had gathered at Socoh in Judah. Saul and the Israeli army were on a nearby mountain. Between them lay the Valley of Elah. The Israelites drew into a battle formation.

Then Goliath stepped forward from among the Philistine army. The Bible description of his height is six cubits and a span. Let’s put that into something we can relate to. Goliath was about 9 ½ feet tall. If he lived today, he would be the GOAT of the NBA. Likewise, his armor was massive with a  protective coat weighing as much at 156 pounds. His spear was 26 feet long and his helmet was 17 pounds. He challenged the Israelites to a one-on-one battle, winner take all. This went on for (you guessed it) 40 days. 

David was tending his father’s flock and was not initially involved in this scenario. Jesse sent David to the Israeli camp with food for his brothers. When David got there, Goliath came out and the Israelites fled. About age 17, David was somewhat naively aghast, saying “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he has dared to defy the armies of the living God?” (I Samuel 17:26). A teenager often thinks he is invincible, even back then. When David volunteered to take on Goliath, and was discouraged and ridiculed, he basically replied “I’ve been preparing for this all my life. I have rescued sheep from lions and bears, this uncircumcised Philistine is no different.” After refusing to wear the King’s armor (“I haven’t trained with with this armor, it will hinder me.”) he picked five stones, got his sling, put a stone in it, and plopped Goliath in the forehead. Dead on the ground. Imagine the shock that overtook The Philistines. Their champion was dead. They fled and Israel was once again saved. Someone once quipped that David had five stones because maybe Goliath had four brothers. He knew he could hit Goliath in only one try.

Jonah. As we are dealing with the number 40, we can ignore the lead up to Jonah’s story. The relevant portion for us today is found in Jonah 3 where Jonah walked through Nineveh, proclaiming God’s message given to him. “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The Ninevites listened as the king issued a proclamation that everyone should call on God and give up their evil ways. The 40-day deadline was avoided.

Samson. The Israelites had been under the domination of the Philistines for 40 years and God sent a strong man, Samson, to rescue them. Samson was far from perfect in his ways, but serves as a reminder that God can use anyone, maybe even if they are unwilling or unaware. 

Elijah. I like Elijah. I can identify with him. He had just had an astounding victory. In a confrontation with 450 prophets of Baal, he single-handedly showed the power of God and bested the prophets, killing them all (I Kings 19). Then he heard that Jezebel had sworn to have Elijah killed. So Elijah high-tailed it out of town, sat under a tree and had a massive pity-party. God came to him, fed him, gave him drink and sent him on a journey to Horeb. A 40-day journey to get his mind right.

Jesus. There are at least two instances in Jesus’ earthly life that involve 40 days. In the first instance Jesus was beginning his ministry. After Jesus was baptized, Luke 4 tells us that “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness” (v. 1). It is worth noting that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit. Jesus did not go into the wilderness unprepared. He was Spirit-led. He fasted. Prayer is often associated with fasting, so it is likely that Jesus prayed during this time. He spent 40 days in the wilderness. 

At the end of this time, Matthew records (Chapter 4) that He became hungry and the devil came to Him. But the human Jesus was ready. Knowing Jesus was hungry, he appealed to that hunger and told Jesus to prove himself by turning the stones into bread. Jesus replied “Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.” Strike one.

Not to be deterred, Satan took Jesus up, showing Him all the kingdoms of the world. Satan offered them to Him, saying  “I will give You all this domain and its glory, for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I want.  Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” (Luke 4:6-7). Note that Satan was correct. He is the ruler of Earth . Once again, Jesus quoted scripture to him. Deuteronomy 6:13, telling Satan  “You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name.” Strike two.

Still hoping, Satan once again tried to trip Jesus by quoting scripture. Taking Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple he told Jesus to throw himself down. Quoting Psalm 91:11 (“For He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways.”) He was appealing to God’s protection of Jesus. “Why not throw yourself down. Your God will protect you.” Jesus retorted with scripture (Deuteronomy 6:16) “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” Strike three and you’re out! Satan, then as now, did not give up but left to lick his wounds and plan his next attack.

Jesus spent 40 agonizing days fasting and praying. When that period was done, Jesus returned to Galilee “in the power of the Spirit” to begin his ministry. Day 41 was upon Him. And He had prepared himself.

There are three lessons for us here. One, Jesus was led by the Spirit. If we deviate from that we will fail. Two, Jesus knew the Scripture and used it against Satan. Three, Satan knows the Scripture but he misused it. Knowing scripture helps us when someone misquotes or applies it erroneously. For example I could tell you (Matthew 27:5) that Judas went out and hung himself. Then I could follow up and tell you (Luke 10:37 NIV) “Go and do likewise.”  

The other 40-day event in Jesus’ life occurred after His resurrection. Only this time, Jesus was not preparing himself, he was demonstrating to His followers that he was, indeed, alive. He was also preparing them to carry on His ministry, assuring them that the Holy Spirit would be given them. So, in a sense, this was  40 days of preparation for his disciples. During these 40 days he revealed himself, reminding His followers that he told them he would rise after three days. Just before His ascension, we were given the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

There are four things we need to remember. First, Jesus’ statement is that when He ascends and the Holy Spirit comes, we will receive His authority. Second, we are to go make disciples and teach them. Third, those disciples will be baptized by water and the Spirit. Fourth, He is always with us.

Day 41. In all of these 40-day  (year) periods, we see that those involved are undergoing a time of testing and preparation. It is a difficult time and we must endure. Enduring the 40 days (years) of preparation we have finished this course. We are ready for what God has for us. Victory is secured, we have graduated. This brings to mind the word “commencement,” often used to refer to the graduation ceremonies. Commencement, in addition to reference to a graduation ceremony, also refers to the beginning or start of something. Let God mold you, prepare you, and don’t give up. He has great things for you if you will only claim them. We are ready for God’s next challenge for us. We are ready to commence. In 2 Timothy 4:7-8 Paul wrote “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

We endure, we undergo trials and testing. At the end of the course, at the end of our “40” our reward is bestowed on us by our Lord. Claim your “41” for all eternity. 

Unless otherwise indicated all scripture is from the New American Standard Bible.

Photo credit to Adrian Vieriu from Pexels