on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their
prayers;
But the face of the Lord is
against those who do evil.
I Peter 3:12
The most natural human feeling is to strike back! Many will choose this method and gain zero. Striking back solves nothing. Many times the hurt that we are feeling was really not meant for the one who received it, ie: you were just the one there at that moment! It's really important to not take words too seriously. People's actions show more what is in their heart than what they might say. So when your getting ready to gauge someone on the likeable scale....think about what is really in their heart, not what they have said!
It's probably safe to say for most that Life is not fair,..it's difficult! That's a given, and if we really spend time in God's word...understanding what it says, we will soon realize that the very hurt in our lives becomes the heart our Christian testimony. When we let go of our lives and let God take charge we experience freedom from hurt. Why...because our dependency on God means we have to let go of our own personal desires. When our personal desires become our priority we selfishly get in the way of what God want us to do for Him! We need to live for God! Then from the start we know that we will never have to endure the kind of pain that Jesus was subject to. We will never even come close to that kind of suffering. In comparison, that puts a brand new look on our pain. When we become a new creation in Christ Jesus, our purpose in life as a Christian will be to bring Glory and honor to God in what ever happens in our lives. That is the Grace of God! And, God gives favor to those who display it!
than our Savior.
Absolutely no one.
Jesus of Nazareth was the only
perfect Man who ever lived,
yet He suffered continually
during His brief life on this planet.
He was misunderstood, maligned,
hated, arrested, and tortured.
Finally, they crucified Him.
And Peter says we are
to walk in the steps of Jesus. (I Peter 2:21)
Excerpt from Hope Again, by Charles Swindoll
You can put a whole new spin on your life and you might even find yourself even more happier if see those who hurt you in the light that God sees them. He loves everyone, even sinners, even those that we might not like at the moment. Many of God's people are lost. It is because of their lost state that they become unknowingly prey of the evil powers of this world.
but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness
of this age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness
in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor
of God that you may be able to withstand
in the evil day, and having done all,
to stand.
Ephesians 6:12-13
The Bible is filled with instruction on how to handle our hurt because God knew how much we would have to endure. He also gave us the perfect way to handle it. In Him we are free! We are not alone....God knows every tear we shed....every pain we feel, every unfairness we face!
We started out with I Peter 3:12....For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayers. God is well aware of the injustice you may be suffering. He is now looking to see how you are going to handle it! Will you ultimately bring Glory to His Name in your suffering,....? If your suffering has brought you closer to Him, you are seeking and applying His counsel in the Bible, and you now find your heart softening, you my friend, are bringing Glory to our Father in Christ Jesus!
count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith
produces patience.
But let patience have its perfect work,
that you may be perfect and complete,
lacking nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom,
let him ask of God,
who gives to all liberally and without reproach,
and it will be given to him
James
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