Thursday, June 28, 2007

The Bullet of Response: Following the Perfect Example

Our Perfect Master goes on to say in John 12:25 that “they hated Me without cause.” Sometimes, for no reason in us, people will criticize us, hate us, and make no attempt to understand us. No one can build a barrier strong enough to protect himself from the self-centered attacks of other members of the human race. Even Jesus didn’t!!

But take heart! God does not judge us by the accusations directed at us but by the responses that proceed from us.

We are not responsible for controlling others, but we are responsible for controlling ourselves. Hatred, criticism and misunderstanding are bound to come, but we’d better be careful that they don’t come from us.

When we’re tempted to misunderstand someone, or others seek to draw us into a “criticism session,” our “God response” should be as follows: “I’m sorry but I don’t understand enough about that person or the situation to comment.”

Responses like that were why the Father was well pleased with the Son. Even though Jesus Christ understood everything about His mission, the people and His situation before Pilate, He still kept His mouth shut!

Let us not be so foolish as to miss the enormity of such an example!

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