Day 156 "The Forgiving Prayer of Stephen"

I hadn't seen this before, until the pastor of our church brought it to our attention.

The possibility that while Stephen, a disciple of Jesus, was being killed by stoning, and crying out to God "Lord, do no hold this sin against them," that he may have caught the eye of Saul as he was praying, thus, including Saul in his prayer. You can read all about it in chapters 6 and 7 of the book of Acts. I find it interesting that Saul, a pious religious zealot, a card-carrying member of the Pharisees, becomes the main character throughout the rest of Acts starting in the very next verse (Act 8:1). As it turns out, this same Saul, the one who is bent on putting a stop to and destroying this movement of believers who confess belief in Jesus Christ becomes a true believer himself. For on the very road to Damascus, a journey which was intended to seek out more followers of Jesus and have them thrown into jail or even killed, Saul encounters Jesus, himself (Acts 9), and his life is never the same. Though Saul deserves judgement and God's wrath for destroying God's people, he receives mercy and grace instead. Sound familiar to prayer that was recently prayed? Saul's name changes and becomes Paul. That's right, the very same Apostle Paul who is responsible for writing several of the books in the New Testament.

So, why is this so eye-catching? First, as readers we can observe the extending of God's love through mercy and grace. Certainly, if God can provide such mercy and grace to Saul, he can provide it to our lives as well! Secondly, a life bent on destruction turns out to become a life consumed with building up. In Christ, we can find a higher calling for our lives. Thirdly, we discover through Paul that our lives are not to be based on religious rules and creeds but on a personal relationship with God through Jesus, himself. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, he made each of us holy in God's sight for anyone who should believe and have faith in Jesus Christ. The old way of trying to live by religious laws and morality has been set aside to live a new life, one that is motivated by God's love for us and enables us to love one another. To live by love raises the bar of how we should treat one another higher than it could ever be achieved by trying to follow religious rules and regula- tions. Fourthly, through Stephen's prayer for mercy, we see that there is more going on around us that meets the naked eye. A spiritual world exists! Such understanding should give patience and understanding to our steps and help us to see that the greatest value derived from life is not on what we get out of life, but what we give. And lastly, the power of prayer. I don't believe Stephen's prayer was simply coincidental to the life changing events that were set in place for Saul. I believe that Stephen's prayer did much to lay the spiritual groundwork for Saul's conversion to come. You and I can also make a spiritual difference and impact on the lives of those around us. We need only to see ourselves and our world as God's sees it and allow our lives to become conduits for God's love through his mercy and grace.

"Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them."

Acts 7:60

"Brother Saul, the Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming

here- has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Acts 9:17

"The righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:21-24

"Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law."

Galatians 3:25

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through

me." John 14:6

"Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35

Stephen was filled with wisdom and the Holy Spirit. His actions were not perfunctory but were deeply embedded in the love and understanding of God that only comes from seeking to know God more. But Stephen's surrender of his will for the good will of others was powerfully used by God.

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Who is the Saul in your life?

Want to make a real difference in this life? Let God's love change you into someone who

loves others.

In his love, see you tomorrow...

"Carpe Momentum in Love" (Seize the moment in love)