A Proper Response
I’ve been hurt. I’ve been falsely accused. I have people tell things about me or something that I “supposedly” did that was simply NOT how it happened. Words can hurt deeply. Words can be used to spread lies. It is often a circumstance where someone wants to take the spotlight off them, and shift blame to someone else. I don’t always understand this, and I tried extremely hard to not be a participant in this type of response.
Peter gives us the proper response to the person who hurts us with their words and actions. Check this out…
8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. (1 Peter 3:8-9 NLT)
This is easier said than done. My emotions usually elicit a different response. My emotions often invite me to respond out of hurt and anger. Peter is reminding me to be humble and tenderhearted. He’s reminding me to not jump into the fray of “name calling” and “back biting”. He even goes as far as telling Christ followers to respond with blessing. Ouch! That is hard.
Even when people very close to me hurt me, I should respond with blessing instead of retaliatory response out of hurt and anger. I think the best I can do is simply be quiet and pray for the person who’s hurting me. They are obviously hurt, and I may not be able to help in any way. I can pray for them and bless them instead of strike back. I can forgive when I’m hurt. I love Billy Graham’s definition of forgiveness…. “Giving up my right to strike back”. I’m laying down my rights because my heart belongs to Jesus.
Pressing On!
Dwayne