In the warmth of my home, my loving God revealed Himself to me again this morning through the story of Saul and Stephen.
Walk with me for a few minutes as we discover the love of Christ through the forgiving heart of Stephen.
Acts 6:8-15 first tells of Stephen's character as, "a man full of God's grace and power, [who] did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people." Acts chapter 6 then goes on to tell of Stephen's capture by the members of the Synagogue of Freedom. Standing before the Sanhedrin, Stephen faces opposition and lies. When the members of the Synagogue of Freedom were done speaking lies, the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
The high priest then asks Stephen if the charges are true and Stephen proceeds to tell the Sanhedrin the history if Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jospeh, and Moses. Stephen brought to their attention (or reminded them) that the Moses he was speaking about was the same Moses that predicted the coming of the Messiah, the very prophet Stephen was preaching and teaching about.
Acts 7:37, "This is the Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people."
Stephen goes on to tell the Sanhedrin that they are just like their fathers, with stiff-necks and uncircumcised hearts and ears.Telling them they are resisting the Holy Spirit, and that they took part in killing those who predicted Jesus' coming, and took part in killing Jesus.
The Sanhedrin were very angry with Stephen for saying this. Read what happened next,
Acts 7:54-8:1, "When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 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.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 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.
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.
And Saul approved of their killing him."
Saul, raised up from childhood to love God, went to great lengths to abide by the laws set out before him. At the age of roughly 13, he would have traveled the long path to Jerusalem to become a man, sitting under the teachings of some of the greatest rabbi's around. Saul, in his quest to become a man had, himself, become a pharisee. In the years to follow, Saul lost it. He lost the pure innocence of a child who loves God. As the message of the Messiah was preached, the very one Moses had prophesied about, Saul grew more and more angry, fearing Christians were teaching a new way of life without law and without everything he had sworn to live by. And, while that is somewhat true, what he, at the time, failed to see was that Jesus, by his very existence, death, and resurrection had set forth a new way of life. A life free from the religious practices of the past and replaced by one defined by grace, love, and mercy. One covered by the blood of Jesus, himself.
What was so powerful for me to see in Acts today was the forgiveness of Stephen. While being stoned to death, Stephen cries out to God and asks God, "Lord, do not hold this against them."
The next verse tells us, "And Saul was there, giving approval of his death."
Saul heard Stephen's prayer. Saul heard the forgiveness Stephen offered and freely gave. There is no doubt in my mind that was one of the greatest catalysts to Saul's remarkable change from a murderer of Christians to a Christian himself. Saul saw Christ through Stephen's forgiveness. That planted a seed in Saul's heart and God began to stir it up.
As we are well aware, Saul went on to become Paul, after God called him into His Kingdom on his way to Damascus to capture more disciples and murder them. (Read Acts Chapter 9) Paul, became one of the greatest New Testament leaders and apostles and wrote 13 out of the 27 New Testament books.
Isn't that what Stephen did for Saul? Isn't that what God did for Saul/Paul? And, isn't that exactly what Jesus has done for us?
To live Fully Surrendered, we have got to live a life of forgiveness. I confess, this is not easy for me. I hold on tightly to hurts, frustrations, and have an impressive record for holding grudges - but as God continues to work in my life and reveal Himself to me, He so gently and tenderly shows me the path that leads to righteousness.
When we learn to forgive others, we automatically show the love of Christ to them. When we forgive, we, too, are able to move beyond the grips of Satan's hands and into the refreshing and loving presence of a very gracious God.
"Pride never accompanies power in the fully yielded life."
~Beth Moore
Walk with me for a few minutes as we discover the love of Christ through the forgiving heart of Stephen.
Acts 6:8-15 first tells of Stephen's character as, "a man full of God's grace and power, [who] did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people." Acts chapter 6 then goes on to tell of Stephen's capture by the members of the Synagogue of Freedom. Standing before the Sanhedrin, Stephen faces opposition and lies. When the members of the Synagogue of Freedom were done speaking lies, the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
The high priest then asks Stephen if the charges are true and Stephen proceeds to tell the Sanhedrin the history if Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jospeh, and Moses. Stephen brought to their attention (or reminded them) that the Moses he was speaking about was the same Moses that predicted the coming of the Messiah, the very prophet Stephen was preaching and teaching about.
Acts 7:37, "This is the Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people."
Stephen goes on to tell the Sanhedrin that they are just like their fathers, with stiff-necks and uncircumcised hearts and ears.Telling them they are resisting the Holy Spirit, and that they took part in killing those who predicted Jesus' coming, and took part in killing Jesus.
The Sanhedrin were very angry with Stephen for saying this. Read what happened next,
Acts 7:54-8:1, "When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 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.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 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.
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.
And Saul approved of their killing him."
Saul, raised up from childhood to love God, went to great lengths to abide by the laws set out before him. At the age of roughly 13, he would have traveled the long path to Jerusalem to become a man, sitting under the teachings of some of the greatest rabbi's around. Saul, in his quest to become a man had, himself, become a pharisee. In the years to follow, Saul lost it. He lost the pure innocence of a child who loves God. As the message of the Messiah was preached, the very one Moses had prophesied about, Saul grew more and more angry, fearing Christians were teaching a new way of life without law and without everything he had sworn to live by. And, while that is somewhat true, what he, at the time, failed to see was that Jesus, by his very existence, death, and resurrection had set forth a new way of life. A life free from the religious practices of the past and replaced by one defined by grace, love, and mercy. One covered by the blood of Jesus, himself.
What was so powerful for me to see in Acts today was the forgiveness of Stephen. While being stoned to death, Stephen cries out to God and asks God, "Lord, do not hold this against them."
The next verse tells us, "And Saul was there, giving approval of his death."
Saul heard Stephen's prayer. Saul heard the forgiveness Stephen offered and freely gave. There is no doubt in my mind that was one of the greatest catalysts to Saul's remarkable change from a murderer of Christians to a Christian himself. Saul saw Christ through Stephen's forgiveness. That planted a seed in Saul's heart and God began to stir it up.
As we are well aware, Saul went on to become Paul, after God called him into His Kingdom on his way to Damascus to capture more disciples and murder them. (Read Acts Chapter 9) Paul, became one of the greatest New Testament leaders and apostles and wrote 13 out of the 27 New Testament books.
Forgiveness: The word “forgive” means to wipe the slate clean, to pardon, to cancel a debt. When we wrong someone, we seek his or her forgiveness in order for the relationship to be restored. It is important to remember that forgiveness is not granted because a person deserves to be forgiven. Instead, it is an act of love, mercy, and grace.(AllaboutGod.com)
Isn't that what Stephen did for Saul? Isn't that what God did for Saul/Paul? And, isn't that exactly what Jesus has done for us?
To live Fully Surrendered, we have got to live a life of forgiveness. I confess, this is not easy for me. I hold on tightly to hurts, frustrations, and have an impressive record for holding grudges - but as God continues to work in my life and reveal Himself to me, He so gently and tenderly shows me the path that leads to righteousness.
When we learn to forgive others, we automatically show the love of Christ to them. When we forgive, we, too, are able to move beyond the grips of Satan's hands and into the refreshing and loving presence of a very gracious God.
"Pride never accompanies power in the fully yielded life."
~Beth Moore
