ODB: comforted to comfort
September 8, 2009 READ: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 [God] comforts us . . . that we may be able to comfort [others] with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. —2 Corinthians 1:4 While speaking to a group of Christian athletes, I asked them how they normally responded to hardships. Their responses included [...]
ODJ: higher
But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against Him, Jesus remained silent (v.12).
READ: Matthew 27:11-26
Snuggling under the thick bedspread on a cold night, I tucked the blankets up to my face and tried to go back to sleep. But the comfort of a warm bed couldn’t chase away my unsettling dream.
Learning the hard way that relationships within the church are nothing short of complicated, I was obviously trying to work out my hurt in my sleep. Betrayal is a strong word, but I felt manipulated, lied to, and deeply misunderstood. Tired of trying to take the high road, my dream revealed my heart: I wanted to be vindicated.
Releasing our right to be justified is certainly one of those “rubber meets the road” moments of our faith. We can try to take control and refuse to be denied our definition of justice, or we can let go and entrust ourselves to a Savior who “understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15). No one likes to be misunderstood. No one likes to stand by and let it happen. Yet Jesus embraced His betrayal because He knew God is faithful (Hebrews 10:23).
Psalm 119:165 says, “Those who love Your instructions have great peace and do not stumble.” Jesus endured betrayal and mockery for two reasons. He loved the Father, and He loved us. In moments of great charity, the simplicity of the two greatest commandments seem within our reach (Matthew 22:37-39). With the sting of betrayal in our heart, however, we wonder how it can be done.
That’s where the high road—a painful place where self dies—comes into play. True life abounds when we live out the grace God has shown to us. Will we choose our human vindication or His divine forgiveness? We can’t have both (Matthew 6:14-15). —Regina Franklin
Are you wanting to be vindicated due to something someone did to you? What keeps you from letting go of the hurt? How much do you value God’s forgiveness of you?
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