I Have a Lot of Room for Growth...

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him [Stephen] with their teeth.  But 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, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.  Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 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.  Acts, Chapter 7, verses 54-60.

I was impressed with how forgiving Stephen is.  They have bitten him and are in the process of stoning him to death, yet he asks God to forgive them.  I have a difficult time forgiving people who have hurt my feelings ten years ago.  Boy, do I ever have a lot of room for growth!

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections.