“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’” “Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep.”
Acts 7:59-60 This passage speaks about the stoning to death of Stephen, a disciple of Christ who was killed because of his faith. It says that as they were stoning him, he forgave them and asked God not to hold this sin against them. Most people will tell you that it takes them time to forgive someone who has injured them because they have to work through it first. Stephen’s offer of forgiveness is extended to the perpetrators as they were committing it!!
Stephen looked to Jesus as his example of forgiveness, who forgave even as He was being crucified. This can’t be done by the flesh, but rather by the Spirit. Stephen was full of the Spirit. Acts 6:5 and 6:8 tells us so. Jesus walked in the fullness of the Spirit as attested by His baptism. It takes the Holy Spirit baptizing our heart with the love of God in accordance to Romans 5:5 for us to walk in this kind of supernatural forgiveness.
For most, the answer to a hurtful offense is, “time will heal.” However, time is not a healer, but rather God. The delay factor springs from our own heart’s resistance to offering our enemy forgiveness because we’d rather have revenge.
Aren’t you glad Jesus didn’t withdraw or withhold His mercy from us as our sin nailed Him to the Cross. Isn’t it wonderful to see that a mere man like Stephen could walk in that same kind of love and mercy. Here’s some great news - We can too!!!