Thank You? | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Thank You? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
07/16/24
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Jesus taught that we are “blessed” when we are “insulted” because of Him (1).

In Matt. 5: 11 NASB2020, the word blessed is an English translation of the Greek word m-a-k-a-r-i-o-i meaning to have a form of happiness so great that one could be envied by others.

He further taught that the heavenly reward for those who are persecuted for taking a public stand for Him will be great (2), thereby encouraging the advancing disciple to continue on and finish the course (3), in spite of the adversity.

Feeling happy is not the natural response when being verbally abused, isolated, rejected, ridiculed, slandered and otherwise persecuted.

The natural response is to return insult for insult, hurt for hurt.

It takes a great amount of restraint to take what was intended to be an offensive or challenging attack, turn it around, and use it as an opportunity to evangelize or to edify another soul.

Such restraint comes from becoming spiritually mature.

The first thing that an advancing disciple will want to make sure of, is that there is no justification regarding the accusations being made, such as having a judgmental, arrogant, holier than thou attitude, when interacting with other people.

Like Jesus, and unlike the very religious Pharisees, an advancing disciple should be able to comfortably sit down with sinners without compromising his or her moral standards.

Granted, conforming to the likeness of Jesus (4) requires frequent 2Cor. 13: 5 self-examinations, confessing (5) and forsaking (6) known sin.

But it also calls for the development of an atmosphere that attracts, rather than repels other people, who are in need of salvation and or edification.

Are you the type of Christian whose “witnessing” causes people to avoid you by going down another aisle in the market place?

Are you the type of Christian whose unspoken testimony (daily lifestyle) and spoken testimony (when asked (7)), draws inquirers, concerning spiritual issues.

Are you the type of Christian that others wouldn’t even know if you didn’t tell them?

The answers to such questions indicates where a born-again believer is, along the road to spiritual maturity.

Much to the disdain of the very religious Pharisees, Jesus was welcomed into many private and public gatherings of sinners and common folks, but often went toe to toe with the religious leadership, and their followers, who would eventually conspire to have Him crucified by the secular authorities.

Picking up the cross and following Him goes way beyond “checking in” at a local assembly for one hour out of the 168 hours that God gives to each one of us each week.

Discipleship is a 24/7 lifestyle (8).
Initially, discipleship is for one’s own edification with the long term objective of participating in the Great Commission.

If you, as a born-again believer, choose to embrace post salvation discipleship, you WILL be hated (9) by your spiritual adversaries, some of whom may be the members of your own household (10).

Being insulted and made fun of is only the beginning of the persecution that an advancing disciple should expect to encounter along the road to spiritual maturity.
. . .

So exactly how does an advancing disciple take what is intended to hurt, turn it around, and make something good out of it?

Step One.

Make sure the insulting accusations are not justified, and take corrective actions, if they are. Consider that the one that God may want to correct could be you!

Step Two

When the insult is not justified, consider it to be a compliment and a sign of your forward progress, and that the insult is the result of being perceived to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Step Three.

Privately (and in some cases overtly) thank your persecutors for contributing to the great reward that is awaiting you in Heaven (11).

Sometimes, such an unexpected response to an insult can open the door of opportunity for an advancing disciple to share the Gospel Message or an edifying principle of Scripture.

(1) Matt. 5: 11 (2) Matt 5: 12 (3) 2 Tim. 4: 7 (4) Rom. 8: 29 (5) 1John 1: 9 (6) John 8: 11 (7) 1Pet. 3: 15 (8) Phil. 1: 21 (9) Matt. 10: 22 (10) Matt. 10: 36 (11) Mat. 5: 12

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