True to His Last Breath

01.31.13

Acts 7.59-60 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 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. (NIV)

Saint Stephen was arrested in Acts chapter 6 for speaking the truth. Man has always needed the truth and yet for some reason he’s mostly denied it. The truth is: there is a God and man needs Him. But man cannot accept that fact – that truth. Man is more content to follow a god of his own making so that he can control that god when things get uncomfortable. As there are many men on the earth – so there are many gods.

So Stephen argued with his fellow Jews about the truth and when they couldn’t refute him and it looked like they might lose the argument, they conspired against Stephen and came up with lies with which to arrest – and try – him.

Acts 7, is comprised mostly Stephen’s defense of his stand: the truth. And when Stephen neared the end of his defense he leveled this statement: “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” (Acts 7.51-53 NIV) And that is when the dam of their fear, anger, and hot hatred burst…

As Stephen was being stoned for defending the truth, instead of reviling his executioners, he blessed them. Stephen prayed: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And then he prayed: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” He didn’t revile, he cried out for their salvation.

Preaching and teaching the truth may have an element of discomfort but it is always to be for the redemption of others. Stephen didn’t call those Jews that day ugly names for what they did to him: he called out to God to be merciful to them; to forgive them for their misunderstanding.

Teaching and sharing the truth about Jesus is never meant to be a club of sorts with which to beat people over the head: Jesus came to free us from that. Teaching the truth is to be gentle, merciful, and redemptive despite what thorniness may accompany the speaking out the truth. If teaching and defending the truth is just beating people up, it’s no wonder they don’t want anything to do with the message or the messenger.

Lord, As I think about Stephen this morning and how he dealt with others who didn’t know the truth about You, may I be redemptive in my manners, message, and methods. We, Your creatures, need Your truth and though we all deserve the worst, You have given us the best: Your mercy, Your love, and Your Son. May I live today, like Stephen – true to his last breath, to honor Jesus…faithfully proclaiming His truth no matter the consequences…