I was thinking about what Jesus said in Luke 23:34 while he was still hanging upon the cross, "And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." In Acts 7:60 Stephen said, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." He said this while he was being stone to death. Jesus Christ and Stephen wanted those who were putting them to death to have a chance of forgiveness. I believed they saw their oppressors as being deceived and wanted them to have a chance at redemption, when they finally come to realize the real truth.
In my opinion, not many of us could do this, praying for the ones who are putting us to death and asking God to forgive them. I would love to be that spiritually mature but I fear that I have still some ways to go. Jesus warned his disciples in John 16:2 "They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God." 2 Corinthians 4:4 "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." Those who are bring harm to God's congregation are blinded by Satan, that is why, I believe Jesus said we are to forgive our brother many times. Matthew 18:21,22 "Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" 22Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times."
The apostle Paul reminded a congregation how they once were in Titus 3:3-5 "For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us,..." The apostle Paul talked about himself in 1 Corinthians 15:9,10 "For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me." Many of the past Christians were blinded and deceived by the devil but yet through the forgiveness of Jesus Christ they changed who they were and carried on the messages of Jesus Christ.
We can see the importance of forgiving our brothers and sisters in order for them, to one day come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Our future is secure in the hands of Jesus Christ, whereas their future if unchanged could lead them to an eternity in darkness. Endurance on our part and keeping our unyielding faith can help them to find God. People can change, Jesus wants us to give them that opportunity to change through our forgiveness. How are we to teach them about Jesus Christ's love and forgiveness, if we are cursing at them?
The apostle Paul tells us how to be in 2 Timothy 2:24-26 "And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will." The apostle Paul also tells us what each of us will have to face. 2 Timothy 3:12 "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,"
People who come against the disciples of Jesus Christ are coming against Jesus Christ himself, for we are not representing ourselves but the kingdom of God. They truly are, just as Jesus Christ said, "for they know not what they do." Our eyes are open to the truth whereas their eyes are shut tightly against it. So we forgive them for their sake and for ours, in hope that one day their eyes will be open. In all honesty, I do not know if I could be as forgiving as Jesus Christ or Stephen was to their persecutors. But I will keep on praying for the love and the strength to be able to. (ESV)
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