SUFFERING FOR GOOD

Being insulted can be a tremendous blessing and a great opportunity for spiritual growth for Christ-followers.


“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:9 NIV)


RESPONDING TO OFFENSES
In the Christian community, sometimes we offend others, and sometimes we are offended. How we respond to these offenses often determines the degree of unity or disunity in the body of Christ.


It is easy to see the disunity of the global Church today. Consider how many denominations there are. Christ-followers are far from being unified. Also, consider the internal strife, rifts, and splits within denominations, where there is painful disunity. Finally, within each local church, there are strong disagreements between two well-meaning believers. I’ve heard these characterized recently as “Paul and Barnabas” situations, but my experience is that they are more than that. There are real insults being tossed back and forth, from the macro of denominational turf wars to the micro-example of two ministry leaders in a local church who can’t seem to get along.


How we handle perceived or real insults either positively or negatively impacts the unity of believers. This morning, in my quiet time, I was reading in John about the unity that Christ wants us to have. Consider His words:


“I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:23 NIV)


LETTING GO OF MY RIGHTS
For me, practically speaking, this concept of suffering for good is new to me.
I’m someone who wants to see justice done.


If there is an insult thrown my way, real or imagined, directly addressing it is my instinctive response. However subtle they may be, insults can hurt. Being slighted, no matter how little, can leave a bruise on our heart. It is tempting to return the perceived attack with a slight of our own. But there is a better way that honors Christ and brings us great blessing.


God is teaching me to let go of my “rights” and to suffer in silence instead of repaying insult with insult. And, even more, to pray for that person and bless them. This is truly transformational, and if we could all do this consistently, we would have much greater unity in the body of Christ, today’s global Church.


CONCLUSION
Being wounded in the Christian community is commonplace. We are all sinners. Even the most well-meaning Christ-follower can wound a fellow believer. How we respond to getting our feelings hurt impacts the unity of Christ-followers.


Embracing Christ’s teaching of repaying insults with blessings is a game-changer, between individuals, factions within denominations, and between denominations themselves.
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Your aspiring servant, Daniel M.
February 20, 2024
POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ.