“Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:“–1 Pet. 2:23
Living in a fallen world it is impossible to escape provocation. In other words– you are going to be mistreated and hurt. While we can’t avoid that we can respond in such a way so as to not make matters worse. Rather than returning evil for evil, we are to “overcome evil with good“( Rom.12:21) as Jesus did. This enables us to view the offenses as opportunities rather than obstacles. Thur we do our part in living “peaceably with all men“(Rom. 12:18).
J. R. Miller gives this excellent advice, “None of us can live long in the thick of life — and not sometimes be touched rudely, perhaps even cruelly, by others. How shall we endure the things which hurt and wound us? We know what Jesus would do, what He actually did. ‘When they hurled their insults at Him — He did not retaliate; when He suffered — He made no threats.’ They drove the nails into His gentle hands, and as the iron went crashing through His tender flesh He prayed, ‘Father, forgive them!’ They hung Him on the cross — but in answer to that cruelty, instead of a withering curse upon the world, He wrought salvation there for men!”
Anyone can sing “To be like Jesus”, but it takes a Spirit-filled believer to actually do what He did!
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.“– Col. 3:13
