In the event of misjudgment, accusation, false reports, and nay sayers:
Ive found that offense becomes a temptation sent from the enemy. Wherein the desire to be offended chokes the desire to do the will of God. If we are not careful, by allowing offense in to our hearts we can cause destruction to ourselves moreso then to the one the offense came. Wherein the action of obedience to the word of God and Gods will for our lives becomes none and void, because we chose rather to act in disobedience rather then the way God would have us to respond!
You see every trail you face, it’s all been done before, Jesus went through it all, and also there is nothing new under the sun! Therefore God had his ways written that we may see two things. The temptation and the answer. Every trail ever known, the answer to the problem is found in the word of God!
So in the case, that offense arises in our hearts, I’ve found that it’s a trick of the enemy, a doorway to get you to sin in your actions, by responding to bitterness planted by the enemy in your heart.
Thoughts like:
“but did you see what they did? And your not going to say something? YOU PUSH OVER!”
“Or girl you just gonna let them say that to you!?”
These are the enemy, trying to get you to act upon offense. Don’t fall for it, it is a trick to get you in disobedience.
Therefore the scriptures gives us direct instructions on how to properly address these areas. The word of God tells us how to behave, but ultimately how to think. Thinking births behavior! So we must think different in order to do different.
In 1 Peter 3 we learn in verse 21 that a good conscience towards God comes by Jesus Christ. Wherein by the power of Jesus Christ we have the ability to stand in righteousness and do righteous though everyone be against us.
I once had the perception that those who the scripture speaks of, persecuting us, and how their would be many against us for Christ sake, would only be people in this world, and I never thought this also addressed family, friends, loved ones, spouses!
I would be so afraid of the opinions of those who I cared for and their judgements and acceptance, that it would damage me when I found I could never fully please them. It would be such a shock that they would accuse me of never changing, or being evil, when I knew was not the same.
To have others misjudge you, or view you not through the eyes of Christ but through their own pain, and perception, can cause you to struggle if you have not viewed their views through the eyes of Christ.
Everything that happens around us and people’s decisions are not always as they appear. Many times they are dealing with hurt and pain, though it appears that their tough and alright.
So we must always ask God, why did they respond like this? And I found when I asked this question, that it was revealed to me the response being due to pain and unaddressed issues from childhood, and wasnt a response due to the current situation. We must be aware, that just as we needed grace, they need it too.
My point in this post is to share that the scriptures show us in 1 Peter 3 really amazing direction on how to respond to people, how to behave, and how to view things.
Focusing in 1 Peter 3, here are a list of characteristics we should have as women:
1. (1 Peter 3:1) “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;”
This is saying we ought to behave with meekness and quietness meaning we come gentle and not with an attitude or in anger, but with compassion in our behavior, graceful, delicate, in love, humble, and forgiving, in so doing we win souls, we win our husbands when they may be walking contrary to God.
2. (1 Peter 3: 5 “For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:”
Trusting God, is a lot more than what we believe, trusting God is shown in our actions and it shows in how we respond. A wife who trust in God will move in patience, and only when God directs her to. A woman who trust not in god often has a knee jerk reaction and attitude, expecting to be heard rather then to listen.
3.( 1 Peter 3:8-11)
“8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.”
Characteristics to have:
Peace
no evil
Good
Able to control what you say
no revenge
kind
no arguing
no fighting back
no talking back (attitude or snapping)
compassionate
loving
4.(1 Peter 3:15-16) “15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.”
So yes they may be wrong, but you don’t go wrong to come against their wrong, keep doing right. In this is power and strength.
It’s easy to do wrong to those who do wrong to you or hurt, but it takes the power of Christ to do right to those who do wrong to you!