Acts 7:58-60 - Selflessness
Scripture:
Acts 7:58-60
58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"
60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep.
NASU
NASU
Thoughts:
Stephen, like Jesus Himself, asks that his persecutors not be punished for their sin against him. This is truly amazing, especially considering the sin against him was his own murder!
I find it easy to be gracious to others when it's of little cost to me, but what about when it requires sacrifice? What about when I'm inconvenienced? This is much harder.
Here Stephen, as Christ before him, is making the ultimate sacrifice. And yet he's not defending himself or asking for help. He's praying for his murderers! Truly, only God could do this in a human being, this is not natural!
How far away from this picture do our hearts tend to be? When someone wrongs us, we tend to want revenge or at least find comfort in the fact that the Lord will make it right, in the end. Yet Stephen, rather than wanting revenge, is focused on the needs of others right to the end. He's concerned about the spiritual well-being of his persecutors, more than his own life and rights.
Prayer:
Lord, soften my heart. Give me love and compassion, even for those who wrong me, whether it be a co-worker, a family member, or even just someone who treats me rudely. Give me an outlook of selflessness, rather than selfishness. Make me like You.
Amen
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