2 Chronicles 24:20-22

Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’” But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple. King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had shown him but killed his son, who said as he lay dying, “May the Lord see this and call you to account.”

Luke 23:34

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Acts 7:59-60

And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

I was reading recently in 2 Chronicles 24 and it stood out to me how as a priest was being wrongly stoned to death, he said, “May the Lord see this and call you to account.”  Sounds reasonable, right?  But both Jesus and Stephen, during their moments of unfair death, cried out to God to forgive those responsible. Such a different heart we see in these New Testament accounts…one of love, forgiveness, mercy, and surrender.  Contrary to what many in the world might think, Christianity is not for wimps.  It often requires what is hardest…and God gives us the needed grace to carry it out.