THE PRAYER OF a martyr

As Christians, we have very real enemies seeking to disrupt our walk with Jesus. The devil, the world around us and even our own sinful instincts are constantly looking for opportunities to drag us away from God.

Stephen was in his last moments on earth. He’d given a powerful, deeply challenging sermon to the religious leaders who denied Jesus. In their murderous rage, he was dragged out to be stoned to death by the crowd.

Alone, in pain, and treated as an enemy of the state, Stephen spoke his last prayer. It wasn’t a cry for rescue, but a deep moment of acceptance and forgiveness. Within the violent storm of stones, Stephen imitated His Saviour’s death and even saw Jesus standing ready to receive him in heaven.

Stephen’s prayer didn’t just come from within his own heart; it came straight from the heart of His Lord who also forgave from the cross. In his darkest moment, when the crowd and probably his own senses were screaming at him to pull away from Jesus and live, he stayed close to His Saviour.

Nothing can separate us from our Lord. Even in our worst moments, we can cling to Him in prayer just like Stephen.