Forgiveness: What Makes It Easier?Sample

Forgiveness: Lessons From Stephen

What happens when we yield to the Holy Spirit daily and live eternity-conscious? Forgiving others becomes easy. Let’s examine Acts 7:54-60 (KJV):

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him 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.

Stephen caught a glimpse of heaven by the power of the Holy Spirit. It empowered him to forgive those who were hurting him for speaking the truth. As we yield to the Holy Spirit daily, we become eternity-conscious. The revelation that heaven truly exists—that there is a life to look forward to after death—empowers us to forgive. Also, we must not forget that our ability to receive forgiveness from God is dependent on our ability to extend forgiveness to others (Matthew 6:12-14). We don’t want to block any access to God’s mercy. To partake of eternal life, we need God's mercy.

Reflection: What will happen if I die at this moment with an unforgiving heart? Am I willing to lose eternal life due to an unforgiving heart?