“Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
when He suffered
Oh how he suffered (1 Pe 1:11; 2:21; 3:18; 4:12,13; 5:1). We know little about true suffering.
He did not threaten
When Jesus suffered, he did not threaten them with suffering. He would not make them suffer as well. He did not conjure up revenge. He did not look for an opportunity to put revenge into action.
Jesus had the power to call vengeance down upon his enemies, but he chose not to do so. He did not defend himself against personal wrongs. He was more concerned about the plan of God than about himself.
PRINCIPLE:
God wants us to be more concerned about the plan of God for our lives than about ourselves.
APPLICATION:
Jesus did not threaten his accusers with harm. He did not say, “I’ll get even. I’ll send the Father after you.” Christians are playing away from home. We forget that we are in a hostile world to Christ. We will not get a break from the umpire here.
As far as this world is concerned, we are misfits. They disapprove of our way of doing things. We do not support their values. They put up with us as a mild form of amusement. They tolerate us if we do not expose their values for what they are.
Are you willing to take a stand on your convictions? Do you orient to the plan of God for your life? Do you live by that plan, or do you respond to the immediate issue at hand?
Grant, I just wanted to say thank you for your work and teaching. I use them in my daily studies and God uses them to work on me, a never-ending work.
Graham, thank you for the blessing.