Stronger than Hate 胜过仇恨
Dexu Xia
Stronger than Hate
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Luke 23:34
Within twenty-four hours of his mother Sharonda’s tragic death, Chris found himself uttering these powerful, grace-filled words: “Love is stronger than hate.” His mother, along with eight others, had been killed at a Wednesday night Bible study in Charleston, South Carolina. What was it that had so shaped this teenager’s life that these words could flow from his lips and his heart? Chris is a believer in Jesus whose mother had “loved everybody with all her heart.”
In Luke 23:26–49 we get a front row seat to an execution scene that included two criminals and the innocent Jesus (v. 32). All three were crucified (v. 33). Amid the gasps and sighs and the likely groans from those hanging on the crosses, the following words of Jesus could be heard: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (v. 34). The hate-filled initiative of the religious leaders had resulted in the crucifixion of the very One who championed love. Though in agony, Jesus’ love continued to triumph.
How have you or someone you love been the target of hate, ill-will, bitterness, or ugliness? May your pain prompt your prayers, and may the example of Jesus and people like Chris encourage you by the power of the Spirit to choose love over hate.
When have you found it hard to love someone? Is there someone you find it hard to forgive now? What steps might you take?
Father, forgive me when I find it hard to forgive others. Help me to demonstrate that love is stronger than hate.
胜过仇恨
父啊，赦免他们！因为他们所做的，他们不晓得。—路加福音23章34节
在美国南卡罗来纳州的查尔斯顿市，克里斯的母亲莎朗达连同其他八个人，在参加周三晚上查经班时遭人杀害。在他母亲惨遭不幸的那一天，克里斯没想到自己竟然说出了满有能力和宽容的话语：“爱能胜过仇恨。”是什么塑造了这个青少年的生命，以至他能由心而发地说出这些话呢？克里斯是一个信靠耶稣的基督徒，他的母亲也总是全心全意地去爱每一个人。
在路加福音23章26-49节的描述，仿佛将我们带到刑场的最前排，将要被处决的有两个罪犯和无罪的耶稣（32节），他们三个人都被钉在十字架上（33节）。当被挂在十字架的人喘气、呻吟，并可能发出抱怨时，只听到耶稣说：“父啊，赦免他们！因为他们所做的，他们不晓得”（34节）。这位活出爱的基督，因为宗教领袖们充满仇恨的倡议而被钉死在十字架上。但尽管在极大的痛苦中，耶稣的爱使祂仍然能胜过一切！
你或你所爱的人是否成了别人仇恨、恶意、苦毒或卑鄙的攻击目标？祈愿你的苦痛能促使你向上帝祷告，并愿耶稣的榜样，以及像克里斯这样的人，能激励你藉着圣灵的能力去选择爱，而非选择仇恨。
你何时觉得很难去爱某一个人？
现在你难以原谅谁呢？你可以采取什么行动呢？
天父，当我觉得难以原谅别人的时候，求祢赦免我。
求祢让我的生命可以显明爱能胜过仇恨！