You Just Never Know

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:41)

 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (Acts 7:59)

God gave Peter 3000 souls at Pentecost but Stephen got 3000 stones.

 The choice is not ours but his. 

Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. (Matthew 11:26)

The shortcut to growing in Christ is suffering. 

So, since Christ suffered in the flesh for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose, patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God. For whoever has suffered in the flesh, having the mind of Christ, is done with intentional sin and has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God.  (1Peter 4:1)

Do you love God? Then trust God. (John 14:15)