A Course In Self Defense

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. - Psalm 37:6

Have you come to a time in your faith when you have asked yourself or God Himself, what is the cruelty you are currently going through? If not, you will. It’s simply part of the graduate course in the University of the Kingdom of God.

As a believer grows in trusting obedience and love, God often brings a test that seems uncharacteristically cruel. The test I speak of is specific. It is the test of being wrongfully judged by those close to you; by those whose opinion means the most to us.

It is a test to make you self-aware of something that is killer. It cannot be passed over by simply gutting it out. I have experience with this. The Bible provides many examples.
Supernatural grace is the only means of passing this test; of graduating from this course.

It is one of those tests Jesus 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 His heavenly Father.

Jesus lived out 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? If you are like me it depends on the setting. With people whom I feel superior I can be big-hearted and gracious. After all, they are probably ignorant of my status and position. In situations that might be costly to me, economically or positionally I can mount amazing defenses. How about you?

Most of us take pride in doing what is right and expect the same from others, especially family, close friends and our brothers and sisters in the faith.

Jesus knew that if you and I were to be a true follower of His, we eventually would go through this fire. It is part of the study course. You and I will have ample opportunity to be wronged, misunderstood, and maligned. When God brings a measured assault against one of His children, it is to open our eyes that we find out if we truly believe in the cross and have associated ourselves with it.

What does that mean? The cross is where each of us is given the opportunity to die to our pride, our reputations, and our self-worth. When our heavenly Father allows a measured assault upon us, it is to find out if the cross of Jesus is sufficient. We discover the depths of our faith. Will we seek to rescue ourselves?

Jesus once said if we die with Him, we would be raised with Him.

Here’s my thought to you on this: When God allows Satan to bring judgment from those we value most, ask Him for the grace and perseverance to remain quiet and 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!

I remain…

InHISgrip,
~J~