MEDDLER or MEDIATOR?

A meddler is a person who interfers in another person's affairs; a mediator is one who tries to settle disputes; one who tries to find the truth in the matter--by listening to both sides--without taking sides.  A mediator is essentially a peacemaker.

Peacemakers (or mediators) often become the targets of attack when they "see" things differently than the meddlers, backbiters, and gossipers see it!  Once the truth is revealed that they (the meddlers) are more the troublemakers than the one(s) they're accusing, they retaliate!Retaliation causes wars and persecution.

Stephen was a PEACEMAKER...and the religious leaders PERSECUTED and punished him by stoning him to death.  However, as he was being stoned, he looked up...gazed into heaven...and "saw" the Lord.  In so doing, he didn't even feel the stones hitting him...his focus was totally on the Lord.

It says in the Beatitudes that "blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God;" and it says that "the pure in heart will see God," but it also says that "those who are persecuted for righteousness sake shall inherit the kingdom of heaven."  [Paraphrased from Matthew 5:8-11]

Those who have a "persecution complex" take correction too personally...they think that everybody is attacking them...they're only concerned how matters affect them....it's all about their IMAGE!  The religious leaders who stoned Stephen that day were not acting in righteousness...they were acting out of rage!

Stephen was being persecuted for righteousness sake.  Stephen's last words were:  "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit...Lord do not charge them with this sin."  Stephen forgave his persecutors.

Maybe you're not a meddler--nor a mediator--but you can be a person of prayer and ask God to intervene on behalf of the one being wrongly persecuted.

Whose SIDE are you on?  Jesus has drawn the line!  He said, "those without sin--cast the 1st stone!"  [John 8:7]