Pray For Undeserving People
Sunday, January 21, 2024Key Verse
“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 7:60)
Text — Acts 7:54-60
Message
A man recently saved the assailant of his son from death in a Middle East country. It was just some minutes for the criminal to be executed according to the law of the country. The law allows for total pardon for the criminal if the parents of the deceased could show clemency. And that was what the bereaved father did for the murderer of his son to go free. What a mercy to the undeserving!
The verse above shows a practical example of this attribute in the life of Stephen. It is an admonition to all Christians not only to forgive their persecutors and enemies, but also to pray for their salvation. Our Lord commands us to pray for our undeserving enemies. He also forgave and prayed for His accusers and murderers on the cross. Christians are to demonstrate this excellent virtue of forgiveness when offended. True Christians should not pray for the death and destruction of their persecutors. They are to forgive them and intercede for their deliverance from sin and satanic influence. God can save our persecutors.
Quote
God can save our persecutors
Challenge
We are commanded to pray for our foes.
Prayer for today
Lord, give me grace to pray for my enemies.
About Author - Pastor W.F. Kumuyi
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
