Scripture: Acts 7.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Acts 7:57-60 (NLT)

57 Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him

58 and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Oh to be like Stephen when people speak evil of me. When they react to the envy they feel against me just because I may refuse to join in their evil. When I may have been obedient to the Holy Spirit and said something that rub them the wrong way. When, because of the evil one, folk lash back at me. Oh that I may be like Stephen and ask the Father to forgive them for they know not what they are doing. This was also the reaction of Jesus on the cross, when He asked God’s forgiveness for those that were actually responsible for placing Him on the cross and crucifying Him. Unfortunately it is natural to lash back at our accusers, or persecutors. Unfortunately it is exactly what they are expecting, and to some degree, the natural tendency of the normal man. Let’s not forget that our strength comes from the Lord. Our example comes from Him and His warriors like Stephen. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world, so who should have the power over the evil one? Of course, we should! Lean not unto your own understanding, but in all things acknowledge Him – the One who has all power, the One who is anxious to, and has the natural tendency to, love, forgive and forget. That’s the God we serve, and that’s the God that we should aim at exampling in our lives. Thanks to the story of Stephen, we now know that God’s children can follow the example of Jesus on the cross. To those that feel no sense of persecution in their everyday life, I would encourage you to check your walk. Perhaps you have softened your walk so much that there is little difference between the way that you act and those that would tend to persecute true/real/practicing children of God. I realize that this sounds harsh, but friend there is a large difference between light and darkness. Are you truly following the ways of Jesus?

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Lord, I acknowledge that I allow the natural man to shine forth way too often. I acknowledge that I need You each and every day to give me strength and wisdom to deal with earthly situations in a manner that would be pleasing to You. Please help me to always realize that if I am to follow You and Your example, then there will be folk who will dislike me – perhaps even hate me, and will find ways to persecute me. Thank God that I see strength in how You loved even Your persecutors and those that despitefully used You. Lord my aim is to love as You did, and still do. My aim is to exemplify You in all that I do and say, so that others, even if it upsets them, will know that Jesus is in control of my life and that my actions reflects those things that Jesus would do. I know that I can only do these things through Your strength and with Your power, so I humbly ask that You lead me, and guide me into the way of righteousness today. Bless those that would tend to persecute me because of my faith in, and love for, You.

 

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