Acts 7:54-8:3 | Imitating Jesusਨਮੂਨਾ

As he’s being killed, Stephen repeats Jesus’s journey into death. Stephen prays, “receive my spirit,” just like Jesus did. (Interestingly Stephen prays to Jesus, while Jesus prayed to the Father.) Stephen accepted he was being killed. He surrendered to death, trusting that Jesus has power over death.

There’s more. Stephen goes on to pray, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Jesus prayed the same prayer as he was dying. Stephen is filled with the Spirit. The Spirit is making him like Jesus.

Forgiveness is central to being like Jesus; it is a major characteristic of God. It can be hard to forgive, especially in the face of those who hate us, hold us in contempt, or are out to hurt us. But Stephen did. God’s Spirit was alive in him. It was making him like Jesus. All the more in the life of a Christian when they realize how Jesus dying brought God’s forgiveness to them.

How are you becoming like Jesus? One way to consider is to look at your own forgiveness-factor. Who’s hurt you, dismissed you, or treated you with trivial contempt? What grudges are you struggling to let go? Where do you want revenge? Is there someone in your life that you sense God inviting you to forgive? Pray to God about it. Ask him for his Spirit. Ask him to help you walk the way of Jesus. Ask him to help you forgive.