I had the pleasure to join in the Love Idol journey. So I was thrilled to read about this November challenge. I printed the sheets anticipating my time in the shared Scriptures.
“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.”
(Matthew 5:11-12, NLT)
Having just had a conversation about the manner in which people speak to one another, I found this Scripture to jump off the page. It was timely as I was tending to a few wounds myself from words recently spoken to me. I hadn’t shared the words with anyone but my husband.
I’ve noticed people who seeing nothing wrong with being sarcastic or making a rude comment to each other. They seem to think as long as they put “LOL” or a smiley face, the sting is lessened or made less offensive. We slap each other down or talk demeaning without a thought of how it may affect another person. For days.
And I remember the Scriptures I had read - “God blesses you.., Be happy about it…. Be very glad!” (and yes, the exclamation point is there in the NLT).
So I wondered…. surely this Scripture means something other than to be happy when words sting. It must. I pulled out my commentary, one new to me even, and read ….
The second verb is compounded from two Greek words that mean (literally) “to leap exceedingly,” The response is to be unbridled joy.
(from New International Biblical Commentary, Vol. 1, Matthew, page 41)
It had now gone from bad to worse. It was bad enough when He wanted me to be happy or glad (!). Now He wants that I jump up and down about it with unbridled joy? So I stewed a short while about it as my thoughts ranted in my head. There had to be something I was missing about this all. And I was 🙂
People are, in fact, getting ruder and more sarcastic. They are shooting their mouths off. They just plain are. It should not come as a shock to me. Jesus warned that many will turn away and betray and hate one another. He said hearts would grow cold towards Him and to one another (Matthew 24:9-12).
We are further told what will become characteristic of people as time marches on … lovers of themselves and their money, boastful, proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unloving, unforgiving, counting nothing as sacred, slanderous, no self-control, betraying their friends. Ugly list, isn’t it? But check it out for yourself as I did not write the list (2 Timothy 3:1-5, NLT).
In order for our hearts to remain soft and feeling, we are surely going to need to do a better job of guarding our hearts. We are going to need to be deliberate if we are going to be counter-cultural and remain polite and kind and sensitive to one another.
I went back to the whole leaping and unbridled joy issue at hand. What is my response to be? Am I truly being told to be happy at being hurt? Jumping up and down with joy that words have stung?
No, rather I think this is what my response should be …
He blesses me at those times when words have stung deeply. As I respond in a way to please Him, somehow He steps in and brings healing to the sting. As He heals my heart, He refills it with compassion and understanding. He blesses me with more of Himself. And in that I experience unbridled joy. To retaliate and sting back would be to miss the blessing He has for me. The blessing which brings joy is in remembering – He has called me, I am His, and I am fully and completely loved.
“Blessed are you when people insult you.”
Don’t miss His blessing.
Today I may be joining … Tell His Story and Wedded Wed. and Woman 2 Woman and Works for Me and Coffee & Conversation and Winsome Wed. and Three Word Wed. .
Ah yes, and in those moments we can understand, at least ever-so-slightly more, what Christ experienced in his brief life here as our skin-covered Savior. I am so sorry, Joanne, that someone has hurt you with their words. However, I have to say that I am often oblivious in my humor, hurting people more times than entertaining them. So this is a good reminder to me to be gentle and cautious even when I’m joking. I will also say that sometimes people use humor to disguise envy, anger or insecurity. It sounds like that’s what was going on here too. Either way, I do hope that as Jesus comes near to comfort you, you would feel like dancing a jig–letting Jesus lead the way, of course! Hugs to you, sweet friend! (Heb. 5:8)
Thank you, Beth. Our Lord was quick to help me to put this into perspective before letting the hurt lodge too deeply. And you’re right – these times give us a glimpse, ever so slightly, into how much our Lord endured. Makes us even more grateful for Him.
Thank you, Jo, for sharing about stinging words and how Jesus brings us to a place of healing. I need to read and hear this constantly because of my history. I know He has grace for everything He desires in my life. I choose to leap for joy….with “Jesus leading the way.” Sometimes my “hearer” is out of kilter…. and I am not hearing what God wants me to hear and then I ask the Holy Spirit to clear the fog away so I can hear what He wants me to hear in His Word. I do love you and all you share here. Your growth in the Lord is awesome and a journey I am blessed to see through your blog.
Mare, thank you for always being the encourager that you are! I so appreciate you.
Yes, you’re right, the joy has to do with God’s blessing, not the actual sting. Following you at #TellHisStory.
May we learn to focus less on the sting & more on the blessing. And He will tend to it all.
I know I’ve said this before but I’m saying it again, I love how you read, process and share what you’ve learned from time in His Word with us. So thankful for this. Blessings to you, Joanne. xoxo
Beth, thank you for your words of encouragement. I often wonder why I process the way in which I do 🙂 Perhaps I need to stop wondering so much, let go & just write. Thank you for being you!
This post made me wanna leap with joy as well. So many things to be thankful for. Thanks for sharing the love! Blessings!
May your heart always be filled with joy & gratitude. Thank you for stopping here!