"As they stone him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus receive my spirit." He fell to his knees, shouting, "Lord don't charge them with this sin!"
Acts 7:59-60
Acts 7:59-60
As I read through today's reading I will admit I struggled with what to write. The disciples choosing helpers was interesting. (Acts 6:1-7) They set a great example for us busy beavers and over achievers, didn't they? Access our assignments and then ask for help. We don't have to do it all. Whew-what a relief!
I put my Bible down thinking, "Oh well-I will come back later and something will hit me." In the middle of my working on my to-do list Stephen's words from Acts 7:59-60 played in mind. My mind hit pause then I heard:
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
Luke 23:34
Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.
Luke 23:46
Luke 23:34
Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.
Luke 23:46
Did you hear the echo? Did you noticed they both shouted? Jesus was being crucified. Stephen was being stoned. Oh, how I pray that when I experience betrayal and/or pain at the hands of others that others could say of the words I utter, "Is there an echo?"
9 Comments:
Those that have lost their lives because of their faith. The crucification of Jesus last week and today the stoning of Stephen. His faith and forgiving attitude as he approached death was the same as his Savior's on the cross. Surely, it must have made a lasting image on those who saw Stephen's love toward his murders. We too need to pray for those who treat us in a mean way. Possibly, those who seem to be our enemies today may someday be saved if we show the love of Christ to them as Stephen did to his persecutors.
How is it humanly possible to show the love like Stephen did? He listened to the Holy Spirit inside him, filling him up, guiding him, and comforting him. The same Spirit that we have in us today! Only through the power of the indwelling Spirit are we humanly able to offer love to those around us that are not kind.
My heart's desire is that I too would be bold and filled with the Holy Spirit to stand up for my Savior. "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you," (Matthew 5:10-12).
Many, many, many people around the world are getting beaten to death for standing up for what they believe. It's horrifying. In our little communities, we seem to be sheltered from this type of bold and cruel death. Daily, we must pray for those that are being persecuted as they strive to further His Kingdom. We need to stay close to His Word too so that when the time comes, we will be a Stephen. We will have the strength of the Holy Spirit, to will not be afraid or timid to stand up for what is right.
Cling to Him, sending prayers your way, Lori - AZ
Good Morning Wendy. The story of Stephen has always been a favorite of mine. His life glorified Jesus in so many ways.
Mark 16:19 tell us that when Jesus acended into Heaven He was "seated" at God's right hand.
Stephen was arrested and brought before the high council; his face "became as bright as an angel's". So filled with the Holy Spirit, Stepehn spoke the truth before they stoned him. As he looked into heaven he saw Jesus "standing"(Acts 7:55 & 56)...he was no longer sitting, he was standing in the place of honar at God's right hand. I feel like Jesus was shouting victorioulsy for Stephen, he fought the good fight, he didn't give up, and he was coming home. What a victory party!!!!!What a homecoming!!!
Yes Wendy, I heard that echo too. I also believe, if I remember a sermon I heard correctly, that this is one of the only times in scripture where it mentions "Jesus standing". Makes me think of how we stand at the end of a wonderful performance, giving an ovation at the completion of something well done. Christ is standing at the end of Stephen's life, ready to receive him, and applauding a life well done.
As I read about the accusers placing their coats at the feet of Saul, I felt a prick in my spirit. As Saul stood by and did nothing while Stephen was being stoned, I wondered, are "accusers" laying coats at my feet and I'm silently watching and then stepping over them? When I see injustice, do I step in, step back or stand still? Just something I was pondering.
The few words that spoke loudest to me this morning were "...their widows were being overlooked..." Acts 6:1 (NASV)
Do you ever feel overlooked, passed by, neglected, ignored, forgotten?
This morning, a post I read almost two years ago now is reminding me of truth. Many times I have held on to this sentence shared, embracing it through tears of disappointment. It has brought healing and hope when hurt threatened to harden my heart and leave me in despair.
"Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God." Lysa TerKeurst
Just four days ago, Lysa wrote another post entitled, "Chosen", echoing a similar message. God not only sees me, but has selected me. I am an object of design not default. I'm not the last alternative, but the apple of His eye.
Today, I am not overlooked. El Roi, the God who sees, has His eye on me. I can't ever allow feelings or circumstances to tell me otherwise. God's eyesight, unlike mine, has not grown dimmer with the passing time. He knows everything I will face today and all my tomorrow's. He has experienced the loneliness of isolation and the feeling of being forsaken. Although these emotions cannot be denied at times, I can deny their authority over me, for I have been chosen by the King of Kings.
"Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God."
Deliberately, individually touched by the hand of God.
Enjoying the feel of His hand on my life today,
Joy
(PS. If you want to read Lysa's past posts, my blog gives links to them today.)
Did you all notice at the end that they "took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. ...Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen" (Acts 7:58b, 8:1a). Tomorrow's reading is about Saul's conversion. Oh what God can do with a life that encounters Christ and Jesus transforms! My thoughts were drawn here because of our Sunday school class yesterday. John and I are taking Dr. Dobson's Bringing Up Boys and yesterday's video lesson was about two testimonies of Christ's power in two men's lives to help them overcome and come out of the homosexual lifestyle. It was so good! When we encounter Jesus and have Him in our lives He radically can transform us and we become testimonies of His power. I can't wait to read about Saul today! I am excited to read Acts, I have never read it all the way through :)
Hope you all have a blessed day. Will was up most of the night coughing his head off from sinus drainage. I am keeping him home today from school and taking him to the doctor to see if we can get something to help dry him up and so we all can get some sleep. As all you moms know, when you child is up all night you are too.
Brandee, TN
Yes there is an echo - and I too want to have that steadfast faith to stand up when persecuted.
Something that stood out this morning and I will need to research is Acts 7:8 ....... Isaac became the father of Jacob, and when Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs of the Israelite nation.
This points out that the 12 tribes or the 144 that God will take to heaven come from Isaac. I think I had that confused because I thought that Ishmael was the father of the waring nations & I confused that with the fact that he had part of the 12 tribes and Isaac had the other part. Now what I read this morning made it sound like only through Isaac and Jacob are the 12 tribes.
So there you have my confusion and I will look into it. :)
Blessings,
Lynn
This morning I am struck again by the theme of familiarity. As Stephen addresses his accusers he takes us all through a powerful condensed version of the history of God's heirs (us!).
It is familiar, as we have discussed before...but I really enjoy reading it. More than that, I enjoy remembering beneath the words...beneath the timeline of the facts presented...the stories behind the stories which we have all come to know together.
As we have travelled together this year we have dug deep and mined many lessons from the depths of our history.
Like looking at a photo album or scrapbook, Stephen presents us with milestones of where we have been.
But there is so much more...so many more memories.
Praise be to him this morning, who indeed makes everything new!
And blessing to all of you - my travelling sisters!
Love & Prayers from AK,
Liz
Wendy, what you point out today goes along well with what I just heard spoken on the Christian radio station playing beside me. There is a church praying for the Muslim shooter of the Ft Hood disaster. Praise be. This is what Christ taught us to do. Forgive him Father, he has no idea what he's done. Amen.
Morgen - MN
Wendy,
Thank you for your words. Forgiveness is freeing. If we dont forgive we cant move on.
Prayers,Debra
Your post gives me much thought. It poses this question for me, "As others toss stones at me, am I willing to shout "Father forgive them!" and move on with my life as God has called me to do?
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