Have you ever had someone irk your nerves? Is there someone in your life that completely unravels your resolve with a single word or deed? Maybe it is someone you don’t even know very well or even at all? Out of no where, someone zaps you with unmerited meanness, un-thoughtfulness, disrespect, hatefulness and down right evil behavior! Our first instinct may be to get them back. It seems so natural to just zap them the way they zapped you. It is easy to reason that someone needs to give them a dose of their own, awful medicine, and that they should definitely be taught a lesson. It is even easier to think that you should be the one to put them in their place. After all should you just let someone walk all over you and not take a stand? I think we have all been there before. It is a part of the natural and physical nature (of our flesh) to desire setting others straight when they try to do us harm or deal with us deceitfully. It is in our physical nature to want to repay others with the same terrible treatment they gave us. Often times, we envision that we deserve to be treated better. After all, should we not be treated with same kindness and respect that we freely give others? It just seems like zapping them back will make you feel better. But does it really make us feel better to that? What does God desire of us during moments like that? What is the right thing do when someone hurts us, makes us mad, or upsets us royally? Should we revenge and repay like with like-you know-an eye for eye? Or, should we just ignore it all together when someone does us wrong?

Neither one of these responses are the correct way to deal with a situation like this.   It is definitely God’s will for you help Him teach others (that have done you wrong) a lesson. The only thing is it may not be the same lesson you imagined or desired to teach them. What God desires of us is more original and requires a spiritual response not a physical or fleshly response.   The response that God desires of us is even more difficult and humbling than ignoring insults and harmful deeds.  God is clear in how He requires us to respond.  God does not want us to ignore or to return evil for evil or insult for insult.  God wants us to do something grand.  God wants for us to give blessing in return for evil and insult.

1 Peter (Amplified Bible Version)

⁸Finally, all [of you] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing [with one another], loving [each other] as brethren [of one household], compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble).

⁹Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God--that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection].

¹⁰For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good--whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit).

¹¹Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!]

¹²For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), and His ears are attentive to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil [to oppose them, to frustrate, and defeat them].

This describes what God’s will is concerning the matter of treatment of others.  The Golden Rule does not teach us to do unto others as they have done to you.  No, it teaches us to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.  Whenever others do not keep this rule it is up to us to teach them this lesson of blessing and love and kindness, instead of showing them the same treatment they have shown toward us.  As believers in Christ we are called to demonstrate this principal to others.  If we hope to inherit blessing from God, we must be willing to share blessings with others whether we feel they are deserving of blessings or not.

What would it have been like if Jesus had responded to the wrongful treatment He was given with that same hateful and evil doing?  What if Jesus just stopped, called upon God, and said,” Father, I will not do this.  These people are undeserving of such an ultimate sacrifice.  I curse them with the very fate and sentence they have awarded me-death?”  Instead, even after being whipped, beaten, spit upon, and crowned with thorns, He blessed us.  He cried out to the Father, “Father forgive them, they don’t realize what they are doing.” (Paraphrased)

^{Luke 23:34 (Amplified Bible)}

³⁴And Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they divided His garments and distributed them by casting lots for them.

Jesus suffered for good.  He suffered for our sins and He gave up all He had, even His very life, even though we are sinful and undeserving.  Jesus loved us even though He already knew that many would never accept Him and love Him in return.  That is true unconditional love, and it is the true and right response we should have for others.

So remember, no matter how badly someone treats us, it is up to us to treat them right and know that God is with us.  Our reward for suffering for good and our blessing comes from God and through Jesus.  If we have to suffer for good or suffer in Jesus’ name, we are still and all the more blessed.  Not one of us deserves any blessings and a good life based upon our own actions, on account of all our sins.  We are blessed through Jesus and due to the price He paid.  He freely and lovingly gave His life and His blood was shed at the cross so that we could truly live and have a life full of goodness.   He gave us everlasting life through Him, in exchange for our sin.

I challenge you, as my challenge myself also; please think of God’s love.   This is my prayer for everyone, including myself.    The next time someone steps on you and I to get a promotion, let’s not step on them and knock them back down, let’s encourage them and uplift by promoting Jesus. Let us consider what Jesus did for us when someone cuts us off while driving on the highway and give them free clearance (not a scowl or angry gesture).   When people curse us, steals from us, belittles us, or betrays us, let’s bless them, share with them, uplift them, and be faithful to them in Jesus’ matchless name.   Even if someone beats us up and takes our lives, I hope that we can shine for God and be an example of Jesus even in our last breaths, and that our last words and deeds will be gentle and life giving actions of love and forgiveness.

May your life be blessed and a blessing in Christ Jesus.