Recently I had a friend who was under constant attack by their coworkers who asked me for advice. They felt defeated, injured, and sad because of the words of their coworkers. Have you been there? In this world in which we live, we all have at some time been the victim of others gossip. What are we to do? Peter addressed this very issue as he wrote:
1 Peter 2:(NIV) 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;live as God’s slaves.
used courtesy of istock.com/Zhenikeyev
Our very nature is to retaliate or to respond with anger in an attempt to clear our own name, so how do we respond with goodness and kindness to the very people who would like to cause us harm? How does kindness and goodness silence their ignorant talk? Peter tells us that the key to this can be found in looking at Christ’s response.
1 Peter 2: (NIV) 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example,that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[e]
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. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
If our natural response is to retaliate in defense, then what must we do to be able to respond with kindness?
This kindness cannot happen unless the bitterness and pain within our own hearts are transformed by God, Himself. What are the keys we need to remember?
1. Remember that because of Christ’s finished work on the cross, we are freed from the penalty of sin; yet, have become servants of the living God. In such we must understand that even this God has allowed perhaps as a means for us to represent Christ to the very people who seem to wish us harm.
2. Remember that all of our life is no longer about us with our comfort being the primary goal. Our life is about Christ and representing Him to a world that is eternally dying. This life on earth is but a brief second in time compared to eternity. We therefore must see the people around us in the light of eternity. If by reacting in kindness, we are able to change the eternity of another’s life–isn’t it worth suffering the pain? It was to Christ. Look at all that He endured for you, that you might be saved.
3. Remember that the power to do this comes from God. It is necessary that through prayer and Bible study that we take our eyes off of ourselves and place them back on God; knowing that He is our righteousness.
4. Remember a time when you misjudged and mistakenly harmed someone else by your own idle tongue and if you haven’t already, ask for God’s forgiveness. When able seek the forgiveness of the ones you have harmed in the past. By that, I do not mean to reopen old wounds that were healed already; but ask for God to give you the opportunity to right any wrongs you have caused. Let Him guide you as to how.
5. Remember that the words of others, good or bad, are unimportant. We look to the only righteous and just God to be our protector, our avenger, our hope, our love, and our victory. We trust Him and let Him work out His plan in our lives; knowing, His plan is best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX0cmUj4hvw
New International Version (NIV)
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© 2013 Effie Darlene Barba
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