What An Attitude
Acts 7:59-60 [59] And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. [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.
I have so many emotions I think about anytime I read this portion of Scripture. Thankful that there were people willing to take a stand for Christ, thankful that I’ve not faced persecution like this in my life, and many more. I think the biggest thing though is just astonishment. A man living for Christ is being stoned do death for his beliefs. So naturally he’s begging God to kill those that are putting him through this. Nope!! Instead he cries for the Lord to not lay this sin to their charge, and it says he then fell asleep. Too often we are ready to rip someone to shreds because they may have different political views than us. Maybe they don’t believe spiritually the way we do, so we will seek to destroy them. Is that the attitude God wants us to have? We aren’t to support sin or agree with those that blaspheme the Word of God, but we should have a Christ like attitude towards others. There are times that we must take a stand! There are times when people must see that we stand for and with Christ. However, we should do this in an attitude of love for their soul. Think of the affect Stephen had on those that were stoning him that day, like Saul!! He made a stand, but still had an attitude of love! Imagine the affect we could have with an attitude of love towards others. In today’s political climate it’s amazing the hate that is thrown around, even by Christians. How does said attitude bring glory to God or accomplish anything for the cause of Christ? I’m not asking you to go out and accept a sin sick world today. We can however, show others an attitude of love that God has shown us. That could be what it takes so that others may come to know that eternal love that we know!
God bless you today! Bro. Josh Richardson