Forgive Them

They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he ^[a]fell asleep. Acts 7:59-60

Steven was the first martyr in the Christian Church that we were told about. His prayer called awareness first to the Lord Jesus Christ he said “receive my spirit”. But then following the example of Jesus, he prayed that the Lord would forgive those who were killing him.

Imagine being stoned to death and as the rocks being thrown come, hitting your bruised and hurting flesh, praying for forgiveness for those who are murdering you. Honestly I just can’t, I can’t imagine doing that. I struggle with praying for those who hurt my emotions. I can’t imagine praying for them in the moment. I know the Gospels have Jesus calling us to this standard that Stephen lived and died by.

bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you Luke 6:28

But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you Matthew 5:44

Praying for those who hurt us is the standard Jesus set. It doesn’t matter whether the hurt is physical or emotional, we are to pray for them, even when they know what they are doing.

Lord, help me to pray for those who have hurt me, I want to know that I have forgiven them. I don’t want to do this out of a religious obligation because “Your word says so.” but I want to forgive and pray because You have forgiven me. I want my hearts desire to be to extend Your love and forgiveness to those who hurt me. In Jesus name. Amen.