Acts 7:59-60
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.
One of the hallmarks of being imitators of God is the ability to forgive others, as God in Christ forgave us (Ephesians 4:32). This is only possible through the agape-love of God. This kind of love is unconditional. That means when we walk in this kind of love, we don’t treat people with kindness because they deserve it. It’s different from “liking” people. Rather, it’s loving the unlovable.
Like Jesus, that kind of love forgives people while it still hurts. Remember how Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who crucified Him while He was still on the cross (Luke 23:34). He forgave them while it still hurt. That is the God-kind-of-love. That is agape-love!
Likewise, Stephen imitated his Lord and forgave those that were stoning him. He forgave while it still hurt. Interestingly, the Bible says one of the people who witnessed and supported Stephen’s martyrdom was a young man called Saul (Acts 7:58, Acts 8:1). But years later, that same Saul (Paul) had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus and eventually became one of the greatest servants of Christ ever (Acts 9:1-22). How did that happen? I believe that was a result of Stephen’s intercessory plea while he was still under attack, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60).
I wonder how many lives would be transformed if we were more forgiving. How many stubborn “Sauls” would be saved if we were more forgiving? I believe the way we keep grudges is limiting the advancement of the Gospel and the growth of the church. After all, the Lord Jesus said the church’s genuineness is proved by the love prevailing among the saints (see John 3:34-35). That love includes forgiving each other, rather than judging and vilifying one another.
Many of us tend to say, “I’ll forgive when my heart heals”. Some say, “I can’t forgive so-and-so yet because they haven’t apologised yet”. Beloveds, if you wait for your heart to heal before you forgive, you’ll never forgive anyone because our emotions are fickle. If you wait for those who offend you to come and remorsefully bow at your feet, you’ll never know the joy of forgiving because most people don’t like to admit their errors.
You don’t forgive because you feel like it. You don’t forgive because it’s easy. You don’t forgive because it doesn’t hurt anymore. You forgive by faith. You forgive because you’re imitating our God who loved us and forgave us while we were still sinners. We forgive because the love of God poured into our hearts compels us (see Romans 5:5). Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us to be great forgivers.
Pastor Josh