Forgiveness
Acts 7
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| I pray blessings on you as you read. |
(v. 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."
My Thoughts
Forgiveness is a powerful thing. If we don't forgive and we instead hold onto the hurt, we will eventually snap and our attitude toward others will change drastically. Those hurts are a burden on us and if we hold onto it, the burden becomes greater and greater until it is so much that we can't ignore it anymore.
When someone hurts you, it is going to hurt you for a while. Some hurts will last longer than others, and some may only last a day or less. It will last longer if you don't forgive. Forgiveness does not mean to forget about what happened. Nor does it mean to ignore it. Forgiveness means letting go and moving on and choosing to start the healing process.
If you hold a grudge against someone, you are not only going to cause them grief, but you will cause yourself a lot of grief and it may even spread to those around them and you. It will affect your relationships and continue in a downward spiral. Often times, forgiveness is hard, especially for certain things that were done or for certain people, like for a close friend or family member who hurt you.
Stephen was being stoned, which, if you didn't know, means execution by throwing stones. Stoning was the death penalty at that time, a long time ago. While Stephen was being stoned, he asked God not to hold this sin against those who were stoning him. He became a martyr. Stephen was killed for his faith in God, and he forgave those who killed him. I can't say for sure that I would do the same if I was him, though I'd like to think that I would.
Not many people in our world have the kind of forgiveness that Stephen had. Some people have a hard time forgiving someone who stole a pen. Whenever someone hurts you, remember to forgive them. If you don't forgive them, you are going to cause yourself so much grief and heartache, not to mention the other person as well. Don't hold onto that burden. Forgive and give it to God.
When someone hurts you, it is going to hurt you for a while. Some hurts will last longer than others, and some may only last a day or less. It will last longer if you don't forgive. Forgiveness does not mean to forget about what happened. Nor does it mean to ignore it. Forgiveness means letting go and moving on and choosing to start the healing process.
If you hold a grudge against someone, you are not only going to cause them grief, but you will cause yourself a lot of grief and it may even spread to those around them and you. It will affect your relationships and continue in a downward spiral. Often times, forgiveness is hard, especially for certain things that were done or for certain people, like for a close friend or family member who hurt you.
Stephen was being stoned, which, if you didn't know, means execution by throwing stones. Stoning was the death penalty at that time, a long time ago. While Stephen was being stoned, he asked God not to hold this sin against those who were stoning him. He became a martyr. Stephen was killed for his faith in God, and he forgave those who killed him. I can't say for sure that I would do the same if I was him, though I'd like to think that I would.
Not many people in our world have the kind of forgiveness that Stephen had. Some people have a hard time forgiving someone who stole a pen. Whenever someone hurts you, remember to forgive them. If you don't forgive them, you are going to cause yourself so much grief and heartache, not to mention the other person as well. Don't hold onto that burden. Forgive and give it to God.
Prayer Time
Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.
Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!
Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.
Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!
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