Christ Like Response

Acts 7:58-60
And 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. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 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.
Have you ever been wronged? Have you ever been taken advantage of? Misunderstood? Humiliated? Falsely Accused? Punished? We all have and most likely our first response was to lash out at the accuser. Start thinking how unfair unjust or unreasonable the accusation. We most probably have thoughts of anger and indignation. This is epically true if what we are being accused of or attacked for are in God’s service and we are doing what God has called us to do. Why are we being punished for doing God’s work? How could God let this happen? It doesn’t seem fair. The key for all of us is in Stephen's example under pressure and extreme circumstances when he prayed, "Lord do not hold this sin against them."
Wow! How many of us would have thought to make such a statement? A response just like Jesus made on the cross. “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” If we had been in Stephen’s shoes what would our response have been?

Jesus gives us a really great guide when we come under persecution and are falsely accused. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.”
So then do we have a worldly response or a Jesus response? Do we pray for our enemies or do we try to get even? Remember Stephen when you are wronged, “Lord do not hold this sin against them.” How could God let this happen? It didn't seem fair. The key for all of us is in Stephen's example under pressure and extreme circumstances when he prayed, "Lord do not hold this sin against them."