"He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of
your cause like the noonday sun." - Psalm 37:6
As a believer grows in trusting
obedience and love, God often brings a test that seems uncharacteristically
cruel. The test: being wrongfully judged by those close to you. It is not for
the reactionary. It cannot be passed over by simply gutting it out.
Supernatural grace is the only means of passing this one. It is one of those
tests the Savior had to experience Himself when being tried by the court of
public opinion, the religious community, and the government of His day. His
response to the government was silence. His response to the religious
establishment was silence at the final judgment. To the rest of His accusers He
remained quiet and left vindication to the Father. He lived the commandment He
gave to the disciples:
"But love your enemies, do good
to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your
reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind
to the ungrateful and wicked" (Luke 6:35).
How do you react when you are
accused or mistreated for no reason? Do you listen quietly, or do you justify
each and every action? Most of us take pride in doing what is right and expect
the same from others, especially our brothers and sisters in the faith. Jesus
knew that if you were to be a true follower of His, you would enter this test
eventually. It is part of the program. The workplace gives ample opportunity to
be wronged, misunderstood, and maligned. When God brings a measured assault
against one of His children, it is to find out if he truly believes in the
cross. The cross is where each of us is given the opportunity to die to our
pride, our reputations, and our ego. When He allows a measured assault upon us,
it is to find out if the cross is sufficient. He wants to see if we will seek
to rescue ourselves. Jesus said if we die with Him, we will be raised with Him.
When God allows satan to bring the measured assault, ask God for the grace to
cling to the cross. Let the pride and arrogance that Jesus wants to remove from
our lives be crucified. Thank God for the opportunity to be crucified with
Christ. Then your righteousness will shine like the noonday sun and the justice
of your cause will be in His hands.
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