12/21/2023
Good morning forgiving men,
Acts 7:52-59 and 60
52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
The Stoning of Stephen
54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Application:
As Stephen stood boldly and proclaimed the gospel, sinners dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Did Stephen call out to God to rain fire from heaven to destroy these evil men? In verse 60 his words were, 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
The depth of our walk with God is always revealed when we are wronged. How do we handle difficult problems and people? Do we cry out to God to not hold their sin against them? May we walk so close to our Heavenly Father that His character becomes our character, and that we are constantly searching for any sin in our lives, and ask His forgiveness and turn from it. Bible Reading Today: Luke 8-10
