If you have suffered or are suffering because of someone else's words, you'll be glad to know that there is a balm for this laceration.
Meditate on these words from 1 Peter 2:23
'When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.'
Did you see what Jesus did not do? He did not retaliate. He did not bite back. He did not say, 'I'll get you!' 'Come on up here and say that to my face!' 'Just wait until after the resurrection, buddy!'
No, these statements were not found on Christ's lips.
Did you see what Jesus did do? He "entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly." Or said more simply, He left the judging to God. He did not take on the task of seeking revenge. He demanded no apology. He hired no bounty hunters and sent out no posse. He, to the astounding contrary, spoke on their defense. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
Yes, the dialogue that Friday morning was bitter. The verbal stones were meant to sting. How Jesus, with a body wracked with pain, eyes blinded by His own blood, and lungs yearning for air, could speak on behalf of some heartless thugs is beyond my comprehension. Never, never have I seen such love. If ever a person deserved a shot at revenge, Jesus did. But He didn't take it. Instead He died for them. How could He do it? I don't know. But I do know that all of the sudden my wounds seem very painless. My grudges and hard feelings are suddenly childish.
Sometimes I wonder if we don't see Christ's love as much in the people He tolerated as in the pain He endured.
Amazing Grace.
This was written by Max Lucado and it holds some meaning to us here in this forum. I suggest we each consider what Christ did and how He acted during His persecution. If we are to be in Christ as Christ has commanded us to be, then we will mimic Him to the best of our abilities. Let us uplift each other, for then we are uplifting Christ. If do not uplift and we continue to bicker and argue for the sake of arguing then we are pulling Christ down. Think about that the next time you wanna tell someone to go take a hike for their belief. Remember it is in love we are made and it is forgiveness we are to give. No one needs to ask it, it just should be. We are Christ's children after all.
If you cannot forgive then God will not forgive you. We have a great commision set out for us. Yes, we have differences, but rather then dwell on these and argue these, why not work on a solution to these. A way we all can preach God's Gospel of Jesus Christ, together in harmony, in love, in mercy, in forgiveness, and in grace.
God Bless you all.
In Christ Jesus our LORD and Saviour.
Meditate on these words from 1 Peter 2:23
'When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.'
Did you see what Jesus did not do? He did not retaliate. He did not bite back. He did not say, 'I'll get you!' 'Come on up here and say that to my face!' 'Just wait until after the resurrection, buddy!'
No, these statements were not found on Christ's lips.
Did you see what Jesus did do? He "entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly." Or said more simply, He left the judging to God. He did not take on the task of seeking revenge. He demanded no apology. He hired no bounty hunters and sent out no posse. He, to the astounding contrary, spoke on their defense. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
Yes, the dialogue that Friday morning was bitter. The verbal stones were meant to sting. How Jesus, with a body wracked with pain, eyes blinded by His own blood, and lungs yearning for air, could speak on behalf of some heartless thugs is beyond my comprehension. Never, never have I seen such love. If ever a person deserved a shot at revenge, Jesus did. But He didn't take it. Instead He died for them. How could He do it? I don't know. But I do know that all of the sudden my wounds seem very painless. My grudges and hard feelings are suddenly childish.
Sometimes I wonder if we don't see Christ's love as much in the people He tolerated as in the pain He endured.
Amazing Grace.
This was written by Max Lucado and it holds some meaning to us here in this forum. I suggest we each consider what Christ did and how He acted during His persecution. If we are to be in Christ as Christ has commanded us to be, then we will mimic Him to the best of our abilities. Let us uplift each other, for then we are uplifting Christ. If do not uplift and we continue to bicker and argue for the sake of arguing then we are pulling Christ down. Think about that the next time you wanna tell someone to go take a hike for their belief. Remember it is in love we are made and it is forgiveness we are to give. No one needs to ask it, it just should be. We are Christ's children after all.
If you cannot forgive then God will not forgive you. We have a great commision set out for us. Yes, we have differences, but rather then dwell on these and argue these, why not work on a solution to these. A way we all can preach God's Gospel of Jesus Christ, together in harmony, in love, in mercy, in forgiveness, and in grace.
God Bless you all.
In Christ Jesus our LORD and Saviour.
