January 1, 2009 Acts 7:60

“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 7:60.
The religious authorities have taken Stephen out of the city gate to stone for what they say is blasphemy against God. Stephen is brought to his knees by the stones being hurled at him. It is in that position that, with his last breath, he pleads with the Lord not to hold this sin against those throwing the stones at him, and he dies. Stephen, just before he passes from this life, prays for his enemies and persecutors, asking for mercy from God on their lives.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t know that I could do what Stephen did. I can picture me trying to plead for my own mercy, or trying to be reasonable with these people, or, worse, cursing them in some way. I am not so sure that I would seek mercy for my perpetrators. Even in the face of certain death, Stephen was grace-filled, seeking nothing but God’s forgiveness and mercy. This is the mark of a follower of Jesus: mercy, grace, and forgiveness in the face of the unloving and unlovable. This is the goal that I seek after, confessing my own shortcomings. On my death bed or if in the face of martyrdom, I hope to have the graceful and merciful heart, as well as the words of Stephen.
As we come into the New Year, my hope for each of us is that we not only seek God’s grace and mercy, but that we, also, seek to be His ambassadors of grace and mercy to the unloving and unlovable around us. Happy New Year to each of you!
Questions to consider: What would you hope to say in the face of your own death? What would it take for you to get your heart in that posture? Who, in your world, needs grace and mercy from you?
Prayer: Father, I thank You for Your grace and mercy towards each one of us. I pray that You will give me a heart like Stephen’s, who pleaded to You for mercy for his persecutors. Please give me a heart of mercy and grace in this New Year. Amen.