Then Jesus said, “Father forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”  Luke 23:34 HCSB

They threw him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. They were stoning Stephen as he called out: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin!” And saying this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:58-60 HCSB

There is a reason that we use the terms saved and lost. When people are lost, they are without Jesus. In our first scripture passage, people had been swept up in a movement where they were convinced that Jesus was an impostor. They had listened to the rumors of the Pharisees and the Sadducees and chose to release a known criminal in order that Jesus might be crucified. In this scripture passage, Jesus doesn’t ask God to relieve Him of pain. He doesn’t ask God to send His angels down to remove Him from the cross. He asks God to forgive those that have persecuted Him. He asks God to forgive them and then says that they do not know what they are doing. They didn’t know that He was Jesus Christ, Son of God. They didn’t know that He was dying to save them from their sins.

In our second scripture passage we are introduced to a young man named Saul at the first Christian martyr. You see Stephen had delivered a sermon and they didn’t like what he said so they took him out of the city and stoned him to death. Saul approved of this (Acts 8:1). Saul would go on to persecute Christians and fight against the Christian movement that we spoke of yesterday. This young man, Saul struck fear in the hearts of Christians. He would continue this fight until he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus in Acts 9. While in route to persecute more Christians in Jerusalem, Paul was struck by a bright light from heaven and he heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? 

Saul responded by saying, “Who are you, Lord?”

“I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” He replied.

Now Jesus changed Saul’s name to Paul. Even with the name change, he went through some struggles with this new found salvation. He was feared. Many feared that this was just a ploy to get into the inner circle of Christians and continue to persecute even more of them. But if you have read the entire story of Paul, then you know that he was a great man of God. He entered into a loving relationship with Jesus Christ and was filled with the Holy Spirit. Once he was saved, he preached the gospel wherever he went. He was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked and eventually put to death for his belief. Paul lived a wonderful example and showed us how to be content in Christ no matter what our circumstances (Philippians 4:12).

So, today I ask you, do you feel as though you are doing your best to serve God and being persecuted for it? If so, forgive them, they have no idea what they are doing. Pray for mercy for them and pray for God to enlighten those that persecute you and for Him to open their eyes to what they are doing.

Are you fighting against a fellow Christian or a church? Like Saul, you may believe that you are doing God’s will, but I ask you to carefully examine your motives. Look at the blinding light, listen to Jesus. Trust in Him.

I have spent this week speaking of the desperate need for churches to come together in forgiveness and love. I pray that if you have any unforgiveness in your heart that you will search your heart. I pray that you will ask God to convict you of any wrongdoing.

When we get to heaven, there will be no division by churches. No one will care if you were Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Pentecostal or non-denominational.  The only thing Jesus cares about it your relationship with Him. Be sure that it is rock solid because in the end that is all that matters. Be sure that you are leading a life in your church and outside your church that shows what Jesus is truly like. Lead a life that gives mercy and grace. Lead a life that brings hope and healing. Show others that with God’s help there is nothing we can’t do (Philippians 4:13). And most importantly if you are persecuting other Christians or even some that you believe to be so-called Christians, stop. This is God’s job. Romans 12:19 tells us that vengeance is God’s job and He will take care of it.

If you are suffering persecution for your relationship with the Lord, forgive them. Remember they have no idea what they are doing. Pray for God’s forgiveness for them as well.

Have a great day!