Joshua 17-18
Psalm 36
*Acts 7
-Devotion by Stephanie Fletcher (MN)
One thing that surprised me recently when our church was going through a study of Acts, was thinking about the timeline. I don’t know that I ever realized (or maybe I just forgot), that Stephen’s story doesn’t take place just right after Jesus ascends into heaven and the Holy Spirit is poured out. Depending on different sources I looked at, it was 5-7 years later that Stephen’s story here in Acts 6-7 takes place.
Why that sticks out to me here is that when Stephen gets into a debate with some men, and they are essentially embarrassed and then get people to lie about him in order that he can be arrested, it isn’t happening right in time after Jesus’ ministry. It is years later, but groups of people are still seeming to be freshly bothered by the impact of his ministry. This isn’t something that died down – it only got stronger through the faithfulness of those in the early church.
So Stephen is falsely accused, and does he go into a heated defense of himself? Nope. He launches into a history lesson of the people who accuse him, reminding them of God’s relationship and covenant with the Jews over time, and of the failures too of these people. And then he says to them
51 “You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! 52 Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. 53 You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.” (Acts 7:51-53)
Never in his defense is Stephen trying to argue for himself. Through all of it, he is focused on God’s righteousness and as this group stones him, he is rewarded by getting to see the glory of God and Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
And despite this stoning, Stephen’s final words are “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” which is so reminiscent of Jesus’ words of “Father forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
This is such a great example and reminder of forgiveness and loving others that are treating you wrong/hold different beliefs. Advice that I have heard before when dealing with difficult people is to ignore them or not focus on what they are doing and God will “make it right” or enact justice in the end. But Stephen didn’t try to ignore the fact that they were stoning him. Instead, he chose to ask for them to not have his death on their hands which is just so much more loving than the concept of not taking things into your own hands but still looking forward to people receiving “justice” for wrongdoing. As he was literally murdered, he asked for them to be forgiven. Can we offer this much love to people in our lives that probably aren’t trying to murder us, but are doing things that we don’t like?
Reflection Questions
- What impresses you about Stephen?
- What do you do when you feel you are being falsely accused? What happens when we are quick to defend ourself?
- What can we learn from what God allowed Stephen to see and share right before his death?
- Why do you think Stephen chose to forgive them? What do you think is the hardest part of forgiving someone who has/is hurting you? Pray about who God wants to see you forgive.
Prayer
Dear Lord God, I thank You for Your Son Jesus, and his follower Stephen. Forgive me of the times I have not shown the faithfulness, wisdom, courage, love and forgiveness Stephen displayed. Help me forgive, Father, so I can be forgiven. I pray for Your Spirit and wisdom to guide my decisions and words. May I be focused on You and not myself. Show me how You want me to be a faithful witness of You and Your Son today and in the future, and help me do it whatever the cost.
Seek Grow Love 