“And he kneeled down and cried with a loud
voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge…” Acts
7:60
Stephen spoke very similar words as those
uttered by Christ on the cross (Lk 23:34). Christ had promised those living for
Him would suffer as He (Lk 21:12-19); this is still true. By boldly living out
our faith, we too will face rejection: “But
all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake…” (Jn 15:21). Yet
the most profound aspect of this act was Stephen’s ability to plead forgiveness
for those whose hands brought forth his suffering. Stephen applied himself to a
dying work with as much composure and prayer as he did while living. Stephen’s
charge poses a question, do we cry out forgiveness before Jesus for those you
cast stones at us? Forgiveness clears the path before us, by letting go of that
which is behind; allowing us to see the hope we have in tomorrow. Rest assured forgiveness
lets the prisoner go free, but realize the prisoner was you! We often fail in
seeing the goodness of God because we are to focused on the actions of others;
stop trying to remember in others what God has already forgotten in you (Psa
103:12)
Don’t base forgiveness on what someone
deserves, you didn’t deserve yours!
HSAY…Todd
No comments:
Post a Comment