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But Jesus Remained Silent.
From the Daily Christian Quotes
Archive: March 10, 2003
If I am perturbed by the reproach and misunderstanding that may follow action taken for the good of souls for whom I must give account; if I cannot commit the matter and go on in peace and in silence, remembering Gethsemane and the cross, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
Amy Carmichael
http://www.heroesofhistory.com/page49.html
Biography and Bibliography
Isaiah 53:7 (New International Version)
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Growing up in a family of five children as the middle child, I had my fair share of sibling squabbles and disagreements. Being physically weaker than not only my older siblings but my younger siblings as well, I developed battle strategies that went beyond the norm of well-placed punches, slaps, pokes, hair pulling and running faster than fellow adversaries in order to be the first to launch an official protest with my mother. I was a peacemaker of my family and I would usually retreat into a quiet funk when the battle raged on. When I would fight back, my weapons of warfare were just as deadly as my siblings. I knew how to place a quiet manipulation of the truth here, a pointed insult there, a snide sarcastic blow at just the right time. I was by no means always an innocent victim.
Although I was not always innocent, I was not always guilty. On a few occasions, I was falsely accused. Not only did I know I was innocent but so did the guilty party, who bore false witness against me even at his tender age of four. Oh how the injustice stung figuratively and physically when I received a spanking for the crimes of another. I did not go quietly into the night and my protests were as loud and clear as a six year old could make them. "I'm innocent! I didn't do it! It was he! I am the good kid, remember? Hey, wait a minute, this isn't fair!" The thirst for sweet revenge flooded my heart and forgiveness toward my accuser and my judges was slow in coming.
Christians are met with false accusations, and misunderstandings of our intents and personal motivations. For many in ministry or local church ministry, such attacks are commonplace. Pastors find their sermons twisted and taken out of context, elders find that an innocent hug given to a hurting member of the church is misinterpreted by prying eyes and rumours of infidelity soon follow. A pastor's wife takes an active role in church life and she is labelled as a usurper of authority. If she takes a less active role, she is considered by many to be a cold, unsupportive helpmate to her husband. A kind word of encouragement is taken as a patronizing insult. Such is the life of many in ministry.
It is natural to wince against the sting of injustice and God encourages us to present our aching, wounded hearts to him so he can apply his healing salve to our hearts and our emotions. However, he calls us to follow the example set by his Son, even in the midst of betrayal, false accusations and slander. Jesus did not attempt to defend himself before his accusers by pointing the finger or by protesting his innocence. When demanded by his accusers to defend himself, he did not speak to refute the lies spoke against him; he chose only to confirm the truth that was spoken about him.
Matthew 26:62-64 (New International Version)
Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.""Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
And then... Jesus took it one impossible step further. Nailed upon the cross, his body bruised and battered, his accusers mocking him at his feet, Jesus did not call down legions from Heaven to smite them all in one final act of revenge. Instead, he cried out to his heavenly Father to forgive them and relinquished his rights, his position, his future and his life into the same Father's hands.
God has promised to be our defender. He will not leave us defenceless; he only asks that we relinquish our self-defence so he can truly be our advocate. By following Christ's example of forgiveness and relinquishment, we also follow him into resurrection and eternal triumph.
©2008 Katherine Walden
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Time For A Change
A literary critic disliked a short story I recently wrote. No one likes to see their magnum opus snubbed, spurned, or shredded. What toasted my grits about this guy's critique was that I thought he completely missed the point. Seemed like he was headed to L.A. and took the off-ramp for Omaha instead.
When's the last time that happened to you? You offered an opinion, answered a question, or presented a viewpoint that was mangled and misconstrued in the hand-off. Your child, spouse, or friend heard your response – but not the explanation. And they stomped away fit to be tied. Maybe a prayer request was misheard or misconstrued. Rather than ask for clarification, the hearer runs around using your "request" to fuel the church rumor mill.
Misperceptions. Misunderstandings. Missed off-ramps. Aren't they annoying? Frustrating? As in: she was dense. He didn't get it. They were insensitive, rude, jumped to conclusions, assumed facts not in evidence, are hauling a brick short of a load.
But look at it another way: what does your response to being misunderstood say about you?
In my case, I wanted to give the editorial Boy Wonder a piece of my mind – before it blew. But is that how the Lord Jesus responded to his critics? (If you recall, they were mostly the religious leaders of the day.)
Maybe that negative critique raised some good points – even I disagreed with them. Maybe that disappointment or misunderstanding is an opportunity to grow more Fruit of the Spirit, especially in the Patience, Gentleness and Self Control Departments (Galatians 5:22,23).
Now I'm not saying we wink at or excuse careless or insensitive behavior or park ourselves in the middle of the Tactless Turnpike and get run over. But within the context of constructive criticism, are the wounds of a friend -- okay, even a critic -- sometimes better than the kisses of an enemy (Proverbs 27:6)? Can God use what we see as "negative" feedback to lop off some pride, slice away some self-centeredness, prune back some myopia and polish us into a better reflection of his Son? That guy with the buzz-saw cut a little too close. But now I'm thinking, What can I learn from this? Put another way: Maybe it's time for a shave.
© Kristine Lowder
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Crippled Love
Some say an infant has a sense of remembrance
Once created before the very foundations of this world
As the bible says.
Created to dance around the heavenly throne
Delighted to sing the heavenly song
Elated to grasp the Father's Love
Eternal Joy.....Eternal Peace.
Such a wonder we soon forget.
Societal norms.....distant peace
Abusive, violent, poverty stricken communities
Betrayal of justice......laws condemn
Children having children
Children killing children
Parents and siblings disowning their own
Divorce rates greater than the sacred
union meant to be.
Crippled love.
Crippled peace.
Crippled joy.
Help me to remember, Lord
How we once shared
And danced around the heavenly throne
Singing the heavenly song
And grasping the Father's Love
Eternal Joy.....Eternal Peace.
AWAKENING !
Radiant light steps inside
Warming light, fullness of light
Jesus Himself.
Illumination.
He not only gives me love.....He is love
He not only gives me joy......He is joy
He not only gives me peace....He is peace.
Unmeasurable grace is but a gift
Knowing this, I can freely give
Freely give for I have freely received
Freely give and embrace a society
Knowing injustice, betrayal, abuse and poverty
Let me seek out the children
Dying inside at such an early age
Let me draw upon the Father's love
Share from a heart that feels and cares
Because I've been
Betrayed, abused, injustly treated,
Cast away, long forgotten
Poverty stricken.
But now, I remember who I am
And whose I am.
Created before the world's began
Dancing around the heavenly throne
Singing the heavenly song
I've grasped the Father's Love
Known His Joy......And Known His Peace
No longer crippled love
No longer crippled joy
No longer crippled peace.
© Pamela Jones
You must email the author to gain permission to use this poem before using or copying it in any media format including email, blog, print or electronic form.
Rev 21:4 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes"
What strikes me as I read this is the closeness and the intimacy of this meeting, if you think about how close hearts become as we as human beings and individuals are at times of great sorrow as we are either comforting another, or are being comforted ourselves. And then to think of that intimacy. Instead of a loved one, friend, sister, brother, mother or father, who truly does love you, it is THE ONE who loved you enough to have paid your sin debt by dying and rising again in victory for you; THE ONE who truly knows your sorrow and pain, THE ONE who has gone through your sorrow and your pain before you and laid the foundation for the pathway that you are now going along.
It's the Almighty God of Heaven! The Lord Jesus Christ himself!
And He is touching your cheek! It's not you reaching out spiritually to Him in prayer anymore, but it's Him reaching out and physically touching your face! Maybe He will take your chin in one of His nail-scarred hands, while carefully wiping the tears from your face with the other? Lifting your eyes till they meet His as a father would take and comfort his child? I believe it will be a time of incredible closeness.
© Willy PostmaYou must email the author to gain permission to use this article before using or copying it in any media format including email, blog, print or electronic form.
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