The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "The Stoning of Stephen" for Sunday, 13 November 2016 with Scripture: Acts 7:55-60

The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "The Stoning of Stephen" for Sunday, 13 November 2016 with Scripture: Acts 7:55 But he, full of the Ruach HaKodesh, looked up to heaven and saw God’s Sh’khinah, with Yeshua standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look!” he exclaimed, “I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”[Acts 7:56 Psalm 110:1]

57 At this, they began yelling at the top of their voices, so that they wouldn’t have to hear him; and with one accord, they rushed at him, 58 threw him outside the city and began stoning him. And the witnesses laid down their coats at the feet of a young man named Sha’ul.

59 As they were stoning him, Stephen called out to God, “Lord Yeshua! Receive my spirit!” 60 Then he kneeled down and shouted out, “Lord! Don’t hold this sin against them!” With that, he died;

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[Stephen] kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.[Acts 7:60 (KJV)]
When I read the story of how Stephen was cast out of the city and stoned to death because of false testimony brought against him, I often wonder how he could still pray for his killers. Instead of praying that the Lord would stop the stoning, Stephen asked that their sin not be held against them. I also pause to think: What would have happened if Stephen had never prayed for his killers?
When Stephen prayed to God for mercy for his killers, he prayed for their souls. I believe this compassion for his killers must have been sent from God. When I see and hear of all the evil in the world, I wonder, Do I pray only for the victims or should I pray for the people responsible for the evil?
Stephen’s story reminds us to pray not only for strength and hope for the victims but also for mercy for those responsible for the evil. God sent Jesus to redeem the soul of everyone, so we can pray for each person as a precious creation of God.
The Author: Margaret McMillin (Texas, USA)
Thought for the Day: Today I can pray for someone who has hurt me.
Prayer: Dear God, fill me with compassion to pray for those who would do me harm. Amen.
Prayer focus: THOSE PERSECUTED FOR THEIR BELIEFS

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