Eyes fixed on Jesus

I know that I have been mistreated. I know that people have done bad things to me and that they are to blame. I've been hurt by people I trusted and I can prove that they are at fault, completely guilty. It's true for you too, I'm sure of it. We've all been pushed around and bruised. It feels bad to be the target of someone's attack.

Paul says this in Ephesians 4:26-27:

4:26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger. 4:27 Do not give the devil an opportunity.

While it can feel bad to be attacked, we should not sin because of that feeling. Being a legitimate victim does not make it right to counter attack with the weapons of the flesh. Using these carnal weapons that we all turn to so easily gives the devil a foothold, an opportunity. You are exposing a kink in your spiritual armor that he's going to shoot his fiery darts at. Paul lists these sinful responses that we need to learn to supress a few verses down in Ephesians 4:30-32:

4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 4:31 You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk. 4:32 Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

None of us have been bullied more than Jesus. It's hard to be indignant about the wrongs done to me when I'm thinking about Him. My feelings are real, but they should not be my guide when deciding how to respond to my mistreatment. If feeling bad leads me to bitterness and slanderous talk, then I've got an unhealthy focus on myself. I care too much about me if I find myself wrathful and angry, if I'm giving out the evil eye to people that I consider enemies.

When I'm living each day to please God, it's easier to feel bad without doing bad. After all, Jesus didn't enjoy the cross, and there will be things we won't enjoy in life too, but there is a joy beyond the cross that allowed him to suffer and not sin. That same joy awaits us as we carry our little crosses. That same joy of someday being with the Father is waiting for us. We can have God's perspective on these small offenses that we suffer, and learn to shrug it off, forgive because I've been forgiven. Keep your eyes on Jesus on not on yourself.

Paul tells us this in Philippians 2:14-15:

2:14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 2:15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world

Then he says this in 2 Timothy 2:24-25:

2:24 And the Lord’s slave must not engage in heated disputes but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient, 2:25 correcting opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the truth

And finally in Hebrews 12:1-4 we read:

12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, 12:2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 12:3 Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up. 12:4 You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed in your struggle against sin.

When we are upset by our rights being infringed upon in our personal relationships, we are thinking too much about ourselves. There is much to be unhappy about if we are focused on ourselves, but if we are focused on Jesus and the throne of God there is so much more to be happy about. May we not grow weary today, in our souls, no matter how beaten and bruised we are. There is glorious life and resurrection awaiting us.

Let's not be back stabbers and bitter bickerers, engaging in heated disputes and full of grumbling. Let us be patient and gentle, forgivers and forgetters, people living in hope for our future and a hope that those who wrong us will be granted repentance and knowledge. Keep your eyes on Jesus and off of your feelings of hurt. Think of him and you will not grow weary and give in to sin when you feel bad.