A brief meditation designed to snap you back into the restoring power of God’s love.
2026-05-03
The Forgiving Christ Dwelling in You.
Stephen was well known for his love. He loved God, his fellow church members, and even his enemies. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and had been appointed to serve orphans and widows in the newly born church in Jerusalem. Like many other disciples of the risen Christ, he was targeted by the same religious fanatics who had plotted the crucifixion of Jesus and were now harassing and imprisoning the thousands of new believers, especially those in leadership positions.
After being falsely accused of blasphemy against Moses, the law, and God, and dragged before the religious authorities, Stephen had the opportunity to defend himself. You can read his defence in chapter 7 of the Book of Acts. He summarized the rebellions of their nation against God and how they had always resisted the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:1-53).
The religious authorities couldn’t handle the truth; they exploded in rage.
But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him, and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died. (Acts 7:55-60).
Stephen was the first martyr of the Church after Jesus. Critics may think he spoke too much, too loudly, to the wrong crowd, and at the wrong time, but they overlook the fact that he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and God knew what was taking place and why. Stephen didn’t plan to enrage his killers; he didn’t even plan his speech; all of it was a dramatic interaction in God’s presence to expose the evil of the religious establishment and to show that Jesus, the same one who asked the heavenly Father to forgive those who were hammering the nails through his hands and feet, was very much alive and active in his disciples. It was the living Jesus who spoke words of forgiveness through Stephen’s mouth in favour of his enemies.
I don’t think Stephen had rehearsed in his mind what to say if he were ever stoned to death; those were not memorized words. Instead, he had a passionate love for Christ and for his neighbours, including his enemies. He knew that the Son of God was actively animating his everyday, giving him more than enough love to forgive others, even those who cut his life short. Forgiveness is a supernatural gift available to all who believe in and follow Jesus closely.
Here is a challenge: To ensure you are not resisting the Holy Spirit and that the risen Jesus lives in you, pray from your heart a declaration of forgiveness for those who hurt you. If that feels impossible, humbly ask the living Christ to wash your soul of all grudges and fill it with love for all, even those who hurt you. Then forgiveness will flow freely from your heart.
May the risen Jesus fill our hearts with forgiveness and peace.
Forgiven in Christ,
Alvaro Palacio
gcitorontoeast.org 