Tuesday, 16 February 2021

Don't revile

 

who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.- 1 Peter 2.23-25

 

The world just seems to get meaner and meaner. Maybe not, but social media has made it a lot more visible and that makes it seem more normal and that makes it more common and so on.

 

Eventually we all get reviled. That means we all get attacked unjustly. When Jesus was reviled he was attacked and beaten and whipped and spat on and had his beard plucked out and was forced to carry His cross and was nailed to a cross in shame

 

What did he do about it? Did He fight back?

 

No, He carried on even though He had the power and authority on heaven and earth to wipe them out and out an end to it.

 

Why is it that we most often cannot even put up with a little name calling or insult or personal attack? Why do we feel like we must respond in kind?

 

Our pride makes us think that we have to sort it out.  We can’t trust God to deal with it.  We would rather threaten a relationship or ruin our testimonies than to just keep our mouths shut.

 

This is pretty simple. If we are going to follow Jesus lets be sure that we follow His example of not attacking those who attack us.

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