Forgiving

Scripture Reading: Acts 7

              Acts 7 is the record of the first Christian martyr, Stephen. After boldly preaching, and while the stones are striking and his body, cutting his flesh and breaking his bones, Stephen looks into heaven and prays. It is a simple prayer. Succinct, as was required at that moment. He prayed for himself at the moment of his death, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then, he prayed for his executors, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” He was following in the footsteps of the One he called “Lord,” the One who similarly prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He set an example for all believers to follow. He modeled what Jesus and the Apostles taught. Pray for and forgive your enemies.

              Thomas Becon prayed for this grace in his own life. The following is his prayer, but it can be ours as well:

Slay in us our old corrupt and cankered nature by taking away from us our stony heart, and by giving us a fleshly heart, that we, through the operation of your Holy Spirit, may be content, according to your blessed will and commandment, and after the example of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and of that blessed martyr Stephen, freely and even from the very heart to forgive our enemies, to speak well of them, to love them, and to do for them whatsoever lies in our power, and by this means unfeignedly show ourselves to be your sons, who causes the sun to arise on the evil and the good, and sends the rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

(Becon wasn’t a big fan of periods 😊)