responding to insults

The south side of Chicago is not a place for the fainthearted. People are quick to share their feelings if they feel like you are not driving right, or if they feel like they have been insulted or mistreated.

Now that is natural wherever people live, but especially in our specific area.

How do you respond to insults?

Jesus said in Matthew 5:39, "If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

That is hard. Almost impossible outside of the Holy Spirit living in us.

We tend to be like the story of a successful Irish boxer who was converted and became a preacher. He happened to be in a new town setting up his evangelistic tent when a couple of tough thugs noticed what he was doing.

Knowing nothing of his background, they made a few insulting remarks.

The Irishman merely turned and looked at them. Pressing his luck, one of the bullies took a swing and hit the ex-boxer on one side of his face. He shook it off and said nothing as he stuck out his jaw. The fellow hit him again on the other side. At that point, the pastor swiftly took off his coat, rolled up his sleeves and announced, "The Lord gave me no further instructions." And he proceeded to fight back."

The fact is that we can be very good at giving back to people what they have given us and here's the deal - and then some.

Watchman Nee has written, "Noting has done greater damage to our Christian testimony than our trying to be right and demanding right of others. We become preoccupied with what is and what is not right. You ask me, "is it right for someone to strike my cheek? I reply, "of course not!" But the question is, do you only want to be right? As Christians our standard of living can never be "right or wrong," but the Cross. The principle of the Cross is our principle of conduct, "right or wrong" is the principle of the Gentiles and tax gatherers. My life is to be governed by the principle of the Cross and the perfection of the Father."

Solomon said in Proverbs 12:16, "A prudent man overlooks an insult."

The Apostle Peter said in 1 Peter 3:9, "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."

When we are insulted, we can waster our energy thinking of ways to get even, or we can choose the alternative to revenge, we can try to be like our heavenly father.

We can love our enemies.

Now then, if I can just live this stuff.........