1 Peter 3:8-11
Finally, all of you should agree and have concern and love for each other. You should also be kind and humble. Don't be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you. Instead, treat everyone with kindness. You are God's chosen ones, and he will bless you.
The Scriptures say, "Do you really love life? Do you want to be happy? Then stop saying cruel things and quit telling lies. Give up your evil ways and do right, as you find and follow the road that leads to peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you have ever been on the receiving end of a hateful insult, you know how hurtful such expressions can be. Maybe someone put you down in an attempt to look better… maybe he/she didn’t have all the facts… or maybe the person hurling the insult was just mean-spirited. Regardless, our first – and most human – instinct is to retaliate with something equally insulting, if not more so.
We don’t have to look very far to see that insults have become so much a part of the fabric of our lives that many of us hardly even look up any more. I believe that one of the best illustrations of how serious these actions can be is found in toothpaste. Once the paste has been squeezed from the tube, there is virtually no way to return it. The same can be said for insults, unkind words and actions. You can apologize… ask for forgiveness…make excuses and promise never to allow something like this to happen again. But the sting has been delivered… the hurt has been inflicted… and this cannot be retracted.
What if you are on the receiving end of insulting or unkind behavior? How does God want us to react? We have Biblical instruction regarding this. Jesus has told us in Luke 6:27-31…”Love your enemies, and be good to everyone who hates you. Ask God to bless anyone who curses you, and pray for everyone who is cruel to you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, don't stop that person from slapping you on the other cheek. If someone wants to take your coat, don't try to keep back your shirt. Give to everyone who asks and don't ask people to return what they have taken from you. Treat others just as you want to be treated.”
I have literally had doors slammed while my foot was in the threshold. I’ve had lies told about me and unkind things spoken to my face. I’ve been the brunt of mean-spirited jokes, and I have been deliberately excluded or singled out in more than one instance. And I am fairly certain these things have all happened to you, also. We live in a world that frequently operates in lies, deceit, unkindness and insults… even among those who claim to be faith-filled Disciples of Christ. All of this is enough to make even the strongest and most devoted believer feel defeated. How in the world are we supposed to hold our heads up and stay positive?
The answer lies in one name… Jesus. For every insult and unkindness we have experienced, Jesus has endured gazillions. He was physically bruised, beaten, spit upon, and nailed to a cross. His name is slandered every day… and people deny Him, mock Him, and call Him a liar. Even so-called believers challenge Him constantly… “LORD, how could You allow this to happen? Who do You think You are? Where were You when I needed You?” All of these things are hurtful and deliver a punch to the gut. Yet Jesus continues to love us… to open His arms and say, “Come to me and let me have your burdens.” And the most important thing we need to remember is that He does this for those who insult us and treat us badly, too.
We must remember Jesus. We must act – and react – in a manner that honors His sacrifices on our behalf and glorifies His love, grace and mercy toward us. Is this easy? Not at all. Is it worth the effort? Absolutely! The next time you feel insulted, think of Jesus. When you feel like retaliating or acting unkindly or hurling an insult… think of the toothpaste. How will you retract your actions? How will you love someone who has hurt you in some manner… how will you treat them as you wish to be treated? Again, think of Jesus. In Him, we find the perfect model for this. After all… He’s already done the same for each of us!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Father, I thank you for the perfect example of Jesus… and even more so, His love, grace and mercy for each of us. I pray that you will help us to honor You in our actions and reactions toward others… that we will remember the road to peace lies in treating others with love and kindness… especially when we feel they don’t deserve it. Forgive us when we fall short in this area… and help us to always remember Jesus – and to commit ourselves to walking more closely with Him every day. Amen.
Showing posts with label insults. Show all posts
Showing posts with label insults. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for November 2, 2011
Psalm 123
Our LORD and our God, I turn my eyes to you, on your throne in heaven. Servants look to their master, but we will look to you, until you have mercy on us. Please have mercy, LORD! We have been insulted more than we can stand, and we can't take more abuse from those proud, conceited people.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When was the last time you were insulted? I bet it wasn’t that long ago! It seems like the whole world deals in insults these days. It may have been something as seemingly small as a “dig” from a “friend” on Facebook about your political leanings. Or your “friend” may have hacked into your account and posted a dumb (and insulting) status about you… like “Mike plays with dolls” or “Susan is my favorite daughter. I love her the most.”
Or you may have been insulted on a larger scale… embarrassed by a coworker or boss in front of your peers, or by a spouse in front of friends and family. Someone may have been critical of your weight or appearance – or how you dress – someone may have tried to put you down and make you feel dumb. The media insults us several times a day. We’re not smart enough to make good decisions, so the advertisers want to make them for us. The reason you can’t sleep at night is because you don’t take XYZ pill. And if you will only eat a carton or two of ABC yogurt each day, you’ll be fit and trim and never have to diet again. What were we thinking?!
Still others want us to feel inferior because of our faith… or how we worship. Maybe you are ridiculed or made to feel badly by those who attend another church or belong to another denomination… or a different political party. Perhaps others are assuming all sorts of things about you without checking their facts… then making accusations and judgments that really sting, based on these inaccuracies. At the end of the day, we all have times when we are fed up and frustrated by the insults of others… and we are ready for mercy. Sadly, we may be the ones hurling some of those insults… and for that, we need mercy, also.
Thankfully, we serve a God who can rescue us. He stands ready to comfort us when we are hurting… and to correct us and guide our steps when we need that, as well! All we have to do is turn to God… look up and ask for His help… and trust Him to deliver. We must be open – and honest – and hear what God has to say (and listen with an obedient heart). But God will never leave us to fend for ourselves.
When was the last time you turned to God? Are you wallowing in self-pity from the insults of this world… or are you trusting Him to make things better - to shower you with grace, mercy, and unconditional love? Have you asked God to guide your steps and help you avoid insults toward others? Have you asked Him to rescue you from the slings and arrows that may come your way? We can stop the abuse… both the getting and the giving. Turn your eyes toward the heavens and say, “Lord, help me!” He can… and He will. Are you looking upward?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Our LORD and our God, I turn my eyes to you, on your throne in heaven. Servants look to their master, but we will look to you, until you have mercy on us. Please have mercy, LORD! We have been insulted more than we can stand, and we can't take more abuse from those proud, conceited people.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When was the last time you were insulted? I bet it wasn’t that long ago! It seems like the whole world deals in insults these days. It may have been something as seemingly small as a “dig” from a “friend” on Facebook about your political leanings. Or your “friend” may have hacked into your account and posted a dumb (and insulting) status about you… like “Mike plays with dolls” or “Susan is my favorite daughter. I love her the most.”
Or you may have been insulted on a larger scale… embarrassed by a coworker or boss in front of your peers, or by a spouse in front of friends and family. Someone may have been critical of your weight or appearance – or how you dress – someone may have tried to put you down and make you feel dumb. The media insults us several times a day. We’re not smart enough to make good decisions, so the advertisers want to make them for us. The reason you can’t sleep at night is because you don’t take XYZ pill. And if you will only eat a carton or two of ABC yogurt each day, you’ll be fit and trim and never have to diet again. What were we thinking?!
Still others want us to feel inferior because of our faith… or how we worship. Maybe you are ridiculed or made to feel badly by those who attend another church or belong to another denomination… or a different political party. Perhaps others are assuming all sorts of things about you without checking their facts… then making accusations and judgments that really sting, based on these inaccuracies. At the end of the day, we all have times when we are fed up and frustrated by the insults of others… and we are ready for mercy. Sadly, we may be the ones hurling some of those insults… and for that, we need mercy, also.
Thankfully, we serve a God who can rescue us. He stands ready to comfort us when we are hurting… and to correct us and guide our steps when we need that, as well! All we have to do is turn to God… look up and ask for His help… and trust Him to deliver. We must be open – and honest – and hear what God has to say (and listen with an obedient heart). But God will never leave us to fend for ourselves.
When was the last time you turned to God? Are you wallowing in self-pity from the insults of this world… or are you trusting Him to make things better - to shower you with grace, mercy, and unconditional love? Have you asked God to guide your steps and help you avoid insults toward others? Have you asked Him to rescue you from the slings and arrows that may come your way? We can stop the abuse… both the getting and the giving. Turn your eyes toward the heavens and say, “Lord, help me!” He can… and He will. Are you looking upward?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)