DCLM Higher Everyday 21 January 2024 — Pray For Undeserving People
Topic: Pray For Undeserving People
Text — Acts 7:54-60
54When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60And 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.
Key Verse “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” (Acts 7:60)
Message
A man recently saved the assailant of his son from death in a Middle East country. It was just some minutes for the criminal to be executed according to the law of the country. The law allows for total pardon for the criminal if the parents of the deceased could show clemency. And that was what the bereaved father did for the murderer of his son to go free. What a mercy to the undeserving!
The verse above shows a practical example of this attribute in the life of Stephen. It is an admonition to all Christians not only to forgive their persecutors and enemies, but also to pray for their salvation. Our Lord commands us to pray for our undeserving enemies. He also forgave and prayed for His accusers and murderers on the cross. Christians are to demonstrate this excellent virtue of forgiveness when offended. True Christians should not pray for the death and destruction of their persecutors. They are to forgive them and intercede for their deliverance from sin and satanic influence. God can save our persecutors.
Quote: God can save our persecutors
Challenge: We are commanded to pray for our foes.
Prayer for today: Lord, give me grace to pray for my enemies.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
