When Words Stab Your Heart
I want to share this email that was sent to me. It's a weekly devotion worth reading.
Hugs!
Letty
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Dear Friend,
Have you ever had a boss or a spouse accuse you of not caring when you have served your heart out around the clock? Have you had your peers or employees accuse you of ambition and self promotion when you have poured your whole being into helping the organization make it? What do you do when the words of those around you stab you in the heart? Let's learn from what Jesus did.
Matt 27:11-14 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge-to the great amazement of the governor. NIV
Observe that God states the truth and then keeps silent. The leaders asked, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Yes, it is as you say." The listeners took the truth and then distorted the facts. Observe the stark contrast between Jesus' sacrificial love and what He was accused of. Jesus was giving up what was rightly His in order to pay the price for the welfare of those around Him. God's Word tells us in Phil 2:6-8, "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross!" Instead of appreciating the sacrifice, the leaders asked, "Are you the King of the Jews?" and accused Jesus of self ambition.
Observe that it was the chief priests and the elders who accused Jesus. These were people with significant roles in the community. They were those whose opinions counted and had the influence to hurt Jesus. In spite of the fact that these leaders could hurt Jesus, God's Word said, "But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge." Observe, too, that this lack of response was "to the great amazement of the governor."
Why was the lack of response a great amazement? Could it be because our human tendency is to defend ourselves? We want everyone to know how right we are or how good we are. But Jesus did not operate out of reaction to his environment or cir****tances. Life could not rattle Jesus. The world could not change Jesus. Jesus came to change the world. So He stayed on course and did not get distracted. He knew who He was and what He came to do. Jesus assessed the situation and decided this was not the time to say anything. In fact, His silence would keep things moving right on time and right on course to culminate in God's plan to save the world.
When people accuse without the facts, there is something else that is driving them. It could be their own emotional baggage where they are extrapolating on you a fear they had due to an experience with a past or a person who had nothing to do with you. I remember having a boss who was distrusting of me because he was actually distrusting of his ex-wife who walked out on him. Nothing I did could have changed his mind because he was not reacting to me, he was still reacting to her. I once had an employee who would project on me all the wrong doings of a previous boss. It was as if somehow I got stuck in the middle of a script that was playing in her head. No matter how many facts I presented, I could still see the seed of doubt. I learned that facts cannot change the patterns of wounded thinking. Only time and God can do the healing. Wrapped up in the accusation of the Jews against Jesus was their outward appearance to guard what is true and to protect God's purpose when in reality, their hearts were far from God.
When Jesus assessed the emotional climate and drama around him, he chose to say nothing. I believe the key to what guided Jesus was stated in Matthew 27:9, "Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled." In other words, Jesus always asked the critical question, "What is God's goal right now? What is the best response so that things can stay on course?"
Does this mean God will never set the record straight? Hardly. Phil 2:9-11 continues with the words, "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Observe the words, "Therefore God exalted him." Oh Friend, the faith walk is in trusting in God's character. Observe too that it was God Himself who set the record straight. Realize that God is offended when His servant is wrongfully accused. The good news is, God will defend His servant. The great news is, when God speaks to defend His servant, the statement will be so loud and clear and obvious that every tongue will be aligned with the statement God is making.
The lesson from Jesus is this: 1.Don't react. 2. Stay on course in the purpose God has entrusted to you. 3. Wait for God's right time to set the record straight.
I pray this devotion encouraged you in a special way. When I pray for you, I hear a victory song. I believe I you because I believe in the power of God's Word revealed in you as you put His Word into action.