August 9, 2022 - Acts 7:58-60, & 8:1

“They dragged him [Stephen] out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death.” Acts 7:58-60, & 8:1 BSB

Lord, one of the things that I find remarkable in this passage about Stephen’s death is that he prays for these very people killing him. During the stoning when he was close to death, he could have cursed those stoning him, but he chose to forgive and pray for you to have mercy on them. We want to have a knowledge of your heart that leads us to react in the same way when attacked.

We know that our prayers are powerful and make a difference. Saul was overseeing the act of Stephen’s stoning and was at the receiving end of these prayers. Was the conversion that Saul had that turned him from killing Christians to boldly declaring your name, largely in part to the prayer that Stephen prayed for Saul in this moment? Lord, what a way for you to honor the price that Stephen paid and answer his prayer than to transform Saul so radically. I think in our earthly minds we can look at this situation and want Saul to be punished for what he did to the Christians. We want to cry out for justice. But your way is so much better. Thank you for the prayers of Stephen. Help us learn to pray for our “enemies” the same way. Help us learn to want to see them radically changed, not punished. Teach us to pray prayers that are the opposite of our earthly desires and cultures. Let our prayers change hearts and lives. Show us the power that our prayers hold and help us learn to pray your will and not our own.

In Jesus name, amen.