If you are given to kindness, to meekness and gentleness, many will think you weak. And if you are truly kind, meek, and gentle, your only defense will be greater kindness, meekness, and gentleness. No matter what you suffer do not surrender what the Spirit has born in you for what the world calls—strength. You may be tempted to give in and grow bitter, self-serving, or harsh—to become more like them.
Don’t do it!
Instead, return their hatred with love, return their rudeness with grace, their venom with sweet words. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). As you make your choice keep in mind this is how they treated your Master and the servant is by no means greater than the Master (Jn. 3:16; 15:20).
Making the choice to love in the face of hate is not easy when the world proclaims self-protection and individualism. It makes no sense in a world of brutes to speak of a Gospel of weakness. In fact, it may leave you trampled, bruised, and threadbare but the truth of God’s prescribed meekness, of Christ’s exemplified meekness, is inescapable. The command is clear—“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (Rom. 12:14). Every day the choice is ours.
Love is sometimes very strong, very tough. We must have boundaries but that is not the issue here. When God speaks of meekness it means we must see the higher goal, the purpose ordained by a perfect God—love—as primary. We must also see our well-being, reputation, advantage, and even RIGHTS as secondary. That is very difficult.
Christ was silent like a lamb before His shearers (Is. 53:7).
Though all of heaven stood ready He offered no resistance (Matt. 26:53).
He prayed for the guards who mocked Him but offered no defense.
This was the Son of God.
He faced derision with kindness but I cannot bear to be misunderstood. We are by no means greater than our Master but OH! if we could just be like our Master.
Is. 53, Matt. 23:37, Matt. 26:53, Luke 9:51
Copyright©2010 Hudson Russell Davis
Stan I am honored to be used. Audrey is a dear friend and her brother is my brother. Let me know if I can be of any other help.
You may not remember me but I’m Audrey Butts Conrad’s brother. She forwarded this site to me. God’s timing is incredible. This is just the thing I needed to read at this point in my life. Thank you for letting God use you. We do serve a risen Lord. Have a Blessed day. Stan
Yeahh! The word WILL NOT come back to Him without bearing fruit. It will transform you in the meantime. 🙂
What a joy to be used. 🙂 Now…join me in memorizing Romans 12. See the earlier post.
Hudson,
Thank you once again for your message.You are one of my favorite writers. We should be practicing this daily so it becomes a habit in our daily lives…God Bless,Suzanne