Archive for February 2021
Stephen: The Forgiving Saint
Then he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!.” Having said this, he fell asleep. – Acts 7:60, NASB
Stephen was an enthusiastic preacher, sharing the Word of God with others boldly. Others tried to trip him up but he was able to refute dissension and false truths because God gave him amazing wisdom (Acts 6:10).
But he had angered some of the religious leaders of the day. So they captured him and put him on trial, making up lies and false witnesses against him. When Stephen began to refute their words, he was dragged outside and brutally killed. As Stephen was being pelted with large stones, he began praying for those who were harming him.
We find it difficult to forgive someone for a crossed word or a negative performance review. Stephen could have been angry. He could have lashed out. He could have called down God to deliver him.
But he didn’t…he leaned into God’s will. What if you interceded for those who wronged you? The driver who cut you off in traffic, the spouse that doesn’t support your dream, or the cop who wrote you a ticket you didn’t deserve?
God, I don’t like what (name) has done to me. In the flesh, I’m tempted to lash out. I want to call down vengeance and take up a righteous cause. But by the power of Your Spirit, I choose forgiveness. I lay down my life just as Stephen did. Please forgive (name) for hurting me. Show them great mercy and kindness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Whew… Morning Meditations 💖
2 Corinthians 5:10 NASBS
[10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:17-19 NASBS
[17] Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. [18] Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, [19] namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
This is beautiful… for us (Believers) the self strength we’ve lived in and sin we’ve done and trespass we’ve committed in this life aren’t counted against us. Christ reconciled that. (You can read the whole chapter)
We will “recompense”… this word means to obtain or receive. We will be obtained and receive accordingly from our deeds at the time of judgment. Judgments can be ruled for or against you. In our case… for us.
The knee jerk reaction is to “work” for a greater reward so that we receive greater. But you can’t work for anything IN Him in self will, selfish motive, etc. You can’t strive for heavenly reward. Because in those things you did not work in obedience to Him, but to yourself and what you thought fulfillment looked like. That is still a work of the flesh.
Hebrews 4:9-13 NASBS
[9] So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. [10] For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. [11] Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. [12] For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. [13] And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Verse 10 is FIRE!
🔥 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.
Rest from YOUR works.
He calls us to abide in His rest. Resting is an act of faith. We must trust. Not work ourselves… striving for reward or finances etc… Find the flow of God and go about our deeds in life in the flow of the spirit. We’re wired in the flesh for “doing”. But if we abide in the spirit with Him… we rest and move with Him. So that which you do is still in His rest.
I could say so much more on this, but I’ll rest in this revelation for today.
But move in Him, build, create, reconcile others to Him… Wherever He leads… you’ll find rest and you’ll receive a great reward. Because your motive is to please Him (without faith/ trust, this is impossible to do), walk in obedience to Him and move as He says… saying yes to Him.
Living your yes to Him.