Evil People, Dying to Self and 7 Responses When You're Wronged

"'But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.'" (Matthew 5:39)

A professor in Bible college once told my class (of future pastors), "Don't go into the ministry unless you're ready to die." (It's funny what you remember from two decades ago.)

Of course, we really didn't know what that meant ~ because, until you're truly in the middle of something, experiencing it up close and personal (versus reading it in a book), that's the real classroom (the "school of hard knocks").

And it never feels good when you're mistreated, wronged, tricked, lied to, manipulated, taken advantage of, stolen from, your name is smeared, etc. (Been there? Done that?)

And when it really, really, really does hurt (like a slap in the face, punch in the gut, kick in the shins) is when the ill will comes from another "believer."

And yet it's part of the death process that my professor talked about for ministers (isn't it?) ~ and Christians, too ~ where we die to self (our fleshly responses to abuse) and embrace the life of Christ (the way He would respond to abuse).

And every single one of us is guilty of abusing Him (Jesus). We are. (Romans 3:23) And He's turned the cheek time and time and time again with us. He has. (Luke 23:34a)

And we're so good at sticking our chests out and parading about what spiritual stars we are.

But then we're wronged (and sometimes it's very, very deeply) and what's our response?

Here are seven choices...

7 Responses When You're Wronged:

1. Pray for the wrongdoer.
2. Wash their feet. (Jesus did with Judas.)
3. Truly forgive. (The prisoner forgiveness really frees is you.)
4. Break off the relationship. (Many times you just have to.)
5. Consider areas of wrongdoing towards others in your own life. (Matthew 7:3)
6. Avoid being suspicious of others.
7. Steer clear of bitterness.

(To listen to Matthew West's song: Forgiveness, click here.)

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