Stephen's Stones

^{Acts 7: 54-60 (NASB)}

⁵⁴ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; ⁵⁶ and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” ⁵⁷ But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. 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.

Stephen was one of the seven chosen to help with the needs of feeding the widows and other similar tasks.  He was known to be full of faith and the Holy Spirit.  He also did great wonders and miraculous signs.  Because of this he started getting some negative attention and persecution.  Read the entire chapter of Acts 7 for the details.

The people's reaction of his defense seems overwhelmingly over the top!  Stephen full of the Holy Spirit saw something that was all to wonderful for others to see!  What a testimony! 

The verse that really caught my attention-while Stephen is still being stoned and he is about to die he prays to God.  His prayer "don't hold this sin against them"  WHAT???  To be so right reacting filled with the Holy Spirit and full of grace to pray that on your death bed (or ground) as people are killing you for standing up for Christ!

I just recently had stones hurled at me.  These were not physical stones, but verbal words of pain.  The person throwing them had no right or reason to throw them.  I was the one that just happened upon the verbal stone throwing arena.  To be honest, my reaction was not even close to Stephens.  No, I did not pick up any stones and throw them back.  I didn't even put up a defense.  I simply disappeared and cried for a bit.

My reaction later between myself and the Lord also did not reflect Stephen's reaction.  It was a verbal frustration at how no one was stopping this person or punishing them for the obvious wrong that was done.  It was not a first offense, thus I was overwrought with a continued helplessness as I knew I would perhaps endure these stones again.

After this discussion (me yelling aloud) with the Lord I was reminded it was my responsibility to forgive, no matter how many times the offense or how hurtful.  Days later the pain and lack of protection would irk me and cause me to have to myself fall to my knees before God and confess unforgiveness.

I'm thankful for God's word the Bible.  This section is such a reminder to me to let the Holy Spirit be the driving motivation for how I react to others, and not my selfish "it's not fair" judgmental heart.

So Heavenly Father, I pray to this end "Lord, do not hold this sin against them."  And may this be my first reaction when enduring future stones of any kind.  In Jesus Name-Amen.