1 Peter 2:23 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.
Jesus was meek and mild. As a twelve year old, He was obedient to His earthly parents Mary and Joseph. And He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them (Luke 2:51a). When He was mocked, questioned, and rebuffed, He moved away. The Pharisees and scholars accused Him that He had a demon but Jesus answered politely, The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” (Matthew 11:19).
Jesus lived a lifestyle of patience and purity. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also (Matthew 5:39). Even to the cross He exhibited love, grace and mercy to those who hated, accused, and crucified Him. Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27). At the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter attacked the servant of the High Priest, cutting off his ear with the sword. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him (Luke 22:51). Jesus practiced what He preached.
We are called to live a lifestyle of humility and purity not because we will be reciprocated and respected but because that was the lifestyle of Jesus. “The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway” – Mother Teresa. Our response to harshness, insults and silliness of people must be patience and forgiveness. Our lifestyle on earth is the treasure that we accumulate in heaven. “Love unconditionally, forgive incessantly and give unassumingly.”
The lifestyle of Jesus was love, patience, meekness, and forgiveness.
Lifestyle of Humility:
1. Retaliate: Do not take revenge. If we get an opportunity to do good to those who have hurt, slandered, or defamed us, we must do it joyfully, and great will be our reward in heaven. It would have been easy for Jesus to wipe out those who arrested and abused Him in a second but He did not threaten them, curse them or retaliate.
2. Retort: Do not retort. Don’t give an angry reply to an insulting post on FB or instagram. Cold wars go on for years on social media between people, communities, and families. A soft answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1a).
3. Rebuff: Do not be disheartened by rejection. “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me” (Luke 10:16). If people reject us, they are disqualified to be part of our destiny.
Develop a lifestyle of humility, unconditional love, and forgiveness.
Colossians 3:12 Clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Prayer: Father God, make me meek and mild like you. Help me to love unconditionally, forgive relentlessly and serve unassumingly. Amen.
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