Forgiveness and Stephen

Hey guys!
I'm reading Acts right now, and I just had an amazing experience with this story, so I thought I'd share.

I don't know if you know the story of Stephen, the first martyr, but it's in Acts 6, if you want to read the whole thing. Basically, Stephen was preaching to the Jews, and they got mad and sent him to court. Then, in 6:13, "They presented false witnesses who testified, 'This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law."

They PERJURED against him! And he DIED because of it! I don't know about you guys, but I was so angry at those false witnesses right then, I could barely control my rage. How DARE they! I was so shocked at them and just total, utter rage filled my whole body and soul.

And then I started thinking, 'You know, I wasn't even THERE. I wasn't friends with Stephen. I wasn't sitting in that court. I didn't watch him get stoned. I didn't know him. And I'm THIS ANGRY!!!" So can you imagine how the people who were his friends felt when they sat there and WATCHED this unfold? How could they not just jump out of their seats and strangle these people? And what about Stephen, knowing these people perjured against him and were now going to kill him?

But you know what Stephen said? He said, "Lord, do not hold this sin against him." He forgave them, after all that. He was not angry. I was angry, and I wasn't even there! I think that this is just an amazing example of how God wants us to forgive. If they could forgive that, then we should be able to forgive anything.

Hopefully, that had as much meaning to you as it did to me. Keep trying to learn to love as the Lord did, because I know I'm going to now.

-Erin