once filled with his Spirit, have what they need to live lives of mercy
and pardon. And if they can do it, so can I.
Stephen was one such man, “a man full of God’s grace and power,
[who] did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people”
(Acts 6:8). For this reason the Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria “began
to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against his wis-
dom or the Spirit by whom he spoke” (vv. 9–10). So they quietly
charged some men to say, “We have heard Stephen blaspheming
Moses and God.” Then they arrested him and brought him before
the Sanhedrin.
All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin stared at Stephen. As he
spoke the truth about the Messiah to the Jews, they saw that his face
glowed like the light of an angel, and in their fury, they rushed at
him and began to stone him.
But before they did he looked up to heaven and saw Jesus stand-
ing at his Father’s side. He fell to his knees and begged mercy for his
persecutors.
Though Stephen’s persecution was probably more dramatic than
any that we will ever face, our need to forgive those who hurt us is
every bit as real as his. Harboring bitterness against others is not just
a spiritual problem. It can have physical ramifications such as stress
and sleeplessness as well. Emotional problems such as depression
can also result. We will never be truly happy or at peace until we
choose to forgive. When we are trapped in chronic bitterness, Jesus
alone can provide the power we need to walk the path of pardon.
Help me, Father, not to keep an account of the wrongs done to me,
but to forgive as Jesus and Stephen did, praying always that those
who have hurt me will come to know you in a saving relationship.
Amen.194 CLAIRECLONINGER