“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:43-44)
A remarkable example of loving your enemies and praying for those who persecute you is Stephen, who was stoned to death by religious persecutors and prayed for them while the stones were painfully killing him.
"While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 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." (Acts 7:59-60)
The reality for us fallen human beings is that we tend to respond in anger and seek revenge when mistreated. So, what we are looking at here is something divine, something we need Jesus' help with if we are to in any small way even emulate Stephen's power of forgiveness.
The answer as to how Stephen was able to show such love for these people, who were "furious and gnashed their teeth at him," and to pray for their forgiveness is to be found in Acts verses 55-56:
"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. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Stephen saw the big picture. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He had his eyes firmly focused on Jesus. He recalibrated his whole being toward Jesus, and Heaven. He knew Jesus is in firm control of all things. He saw and knew heaven was near.
I think Stephen would have at that instant, realized that none of what he was going through was of any importance. That those remaining behind, even though they hated him, were worthy of his compassion, pity, love and prayers, because compared to where he was about to go, they were heading to hell. That is love for the lost.
A remarkable example of loving your enemies and praying for those who persecute you is Stephen, who was stoned to death by religious persecutors and prayed for them while the stones were painfully killing him.
"While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 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." (Acts 7:59-60)
The reality for us fallen human beings is that we tend to respond in anger and seek revenge when mistreated. So, what we are looking at here is something divine, something we need Jesus' help with if we are to in any small way even emulate Stephen's power of forgiveness.
The answer as to how Stephen was able to show such love for these people, who were "furious and gnashed their teeth at him," and to pray for their forgiveness is to be found in Acts verses 55-56:
"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. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Stephen saw the big picture. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He had his eyes firmly focused on Jesus. He recalibrated his whole being toward Jesus, and Heaven. He knew Jesus is in firm control of all things. He saw and knew heaven was near.
I think Stephen would have at that instant, realized that none of what he was going through was of any importance. That those remaining behind, even though they hated him, were worthy of his compassion, pity, love and prayers, because compared to where he was about to go, they were heading to hell. That is love for the lost.
RSS Feed
