When Others Attack

Have you found yourself licking your wounds when others attack you, speak maliciously against you or mistreat you with their comments? I live with this every day and while you may think it begins to slack off, it doesn't. We immediately feel the need to defend ourself and give the other person a piece of our mind. But Peter said that's quite the opposite of what we should do.

I Peter 2:19-21 says, "For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."

Peter was urging slaves to be submissive to their masters in this chapter. When someone hurts your deeply, you almost become a slave (so to speak) to their words and actions. How? Because you think it to death, can't get past it and disdain toward that person grows in your heart. When you make the choice not to retaliate, you are conscience of God. Even more so, the offending person is made mindful of God because you are not waging a similar war against them. Instead, you are waging a spiritual war in not letting your flesh get in the way.

Leave room for God to have the final word. Leave room for Him to do battle.

(Barbie will be the guest speaker tonight at the Pocahontas Baptist Church ladies dinner. She will be speaking Tuesday night at First Baptist Church Batesville.)