Today's Passage - Acts 7:54-60

Acts 7:54-60   When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 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.   Stephen prayed the same prayer Jesus did before his death.  Verse 60 says, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them."  It was like what Jesus said on the cross, " Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." These verses set an example for us in forgiving our enemies.   The Bible teaches us to love our enemies. Each time I read this verse, I wonder how I can love my enemy.  It is mind boggling because if we can love our enemy, they must truly not be our enemy.  If we can love, it is not the enemy. This lesson that the Bible teaches us is really difficult to learn. What is love? Is it just a feeling? Think about it. When Jesus went to the cross, did He feel love in His heart?  Probably not.  In fact before Jesus was crucified, in the Garden of Gethsemane, he prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me." In other words, he does not want to go on the cross. But the precious thing was, although according to the flesh, Jesus did not want to go, still he said: "not my will, but yours be done" When He submitted in obedience, that was an expression of love.   We must understand that, when the Bible teaches to love our enemies, it does not say that we must first have the feeling of love.  It teaches us to submit to God's Word by faith.  In Matthew 5:44, the Lord tells us, "Love your enemies", and in the same verse it says "pray for those who persecute you". We do not need to have the feeling of love before we pray.  We see the examples that Stephen and Jesus gave us here. Even if our hearts are filled with hatred, we are still called to pray for our enemies. You may have experienced some injustice in your life that you just cannot stand.  Perhaps you are being persecuted currently.  Are you willing at this moment to submit to God and pray for those who persecute you?  When you do that, the Holy Spirit will move in your heart and release the real joy in your heart that will release you from the hatred you feel.        Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, we thank you because when we are willing to surrender to your Word and obey your Word in action, the Holy Spirit can act freely in our hearts to bring about freedom, joy and we can be set free. We thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!          See Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - on Facebook!