FAITH FORGIVES FOR IT SEES THE FULL PICTURE – Acts 7:60
Acts 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Stephen understood that there was one thing he could give to those who were killing him prior to his death. Stephen cried out with a loud voice and asked God to forgive those who were killing him. This was not a novel concept, Stephen learned about forgiving those whom did him wrong from Jesus Christ. Stephen understood that when Jesus died, HE forgave those who killed him. Stephen understood that he was being persecuted for Christ’s sake and if Christ forgave those who killed HIM, then Stephen who was trying to walk in Christ’s footsteps must also forgive those who were killing him.
You will never be able to ask God to forgive someone who is doing you wrong until you first understand that they were not persecuting you but where persecuting Christ in you. Jesus told his followers that they would be persecuted for HIS namesake. The trials that you face for Christ are a blessing not a curse. They are a blessing because your relationship with God is so close that it caused those around you to be uncomfortable.
You need to follow the example of Stephen and Joseph. They both understood that while others did them wrong, the wrong that was done to them never could have happened absent God’s consent. Since these men understood that God was in control, they understood that God was using the evil of these men to finish HIS perfect work in them. Because God was using these wicked men to further the work in them, they desired that God forgive them since their evil resulted in much good.
It takes faith to forgive those who do you wrong. It takes faith because you have to understand that God is in control and that HIS hand is directing your life. If you fail to live by faith, then you will become bitter over the evil that others do to you. If you fail to allow God to control your life, then you will not be able to forgive those who do you wrong when God is trying to bring you closer to HIM.
A child does not always understand why his mother makes him eat vegetables while not letting him have as many cookies as he desires. The mother is looking at the entire picture and she desires that her child live a healthy and long life. The child can either obey or rebel. If the child rebels, he is rebelling against that which is best for him.
God allows many things to happen to you because you are HIS child. God allows good and evil things to happen to you to draw you closer to HIM. You cannot afford to allow your relationship with HIM to grow to distant because then HE will be required to do things that draw you closer to HIM. God desires to see you living by faith and walking according to HIS will for your life. When you have this close of relationship with God, you will then be in the position to forgive those who do you wrong because you understand that God allowed this to happen for HIS glory.
Your life is to be lived for HIS glory. The trials that you face are designed to bring you closer to God. Faith requires that you look at life through God’s perspective. You must see that the evil that was done to you was really done because of Christ who lives in you. Jesus forgave those who did HIM wrong and now HE expects you to do the same.