Confidently Entrust Yourselves to the Just Judge

- Though Christ was insulted/ reviled/verbally attacked, He did not retaliate. Though He suffered, He never threatened to get even. Though He was sinned against, He never sinned in response. Instead, He entrusted Himself to His Heavenly Father who judges justly. He left the vindication in His Father's hand. We are to do likewise. He is our Example to imitate. Instead of retaliating or threatening, He prayed to the Father to forgive them. When we humbly submit to God's will and entrust ourselves to His care, we are less concerned with what others say about us or say to us. We can be still/silent and know that God will take care of us and the situations. It is best to look over offenses and look to the One who loves us with infinite love and watches over us with perfect wisdom. "He (Christ the Messiah) 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 its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth." (Isaiah 53:7) His silence in the midst of suffering shows tremendous forbearance and self-control. May we confidently entrust ourselves to our Father who is the Just Judge to the point that we become unshakable and unoffendable! "That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know Whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day." (2 Timothy 1:12)

- It is natural for flesh to insult back when insulted. We demand fairness & the right to defend ourselves and insist on having the last word. Do you care more about being right or doing what's right (in God's eyes)? It takes supernatural strength, love, humility, gentleness, and self-control, empowered by the Holy Spirit for us to not just hold our tongue but also have the right attitude of the heart. We may be silent but still be fuming inside. We need God's help in fixing our heart/attitude. To return good for good is commendable and even natural. To return good for evil (to love our enemies) is Christlike and supernatural. "If you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:13)

"Our profession of faith in a just, sovereign God meets the acid test when we are opposed for taking a stand for the truth. If we strike back, we stand in our own strength. If we follow Jesus' example, we stand in the power of God. When the heat is on and we put our confidence in the Lord, we will be able to do what's right even when we're wronged." (from Our Daily Bread)

"We can endure life's wrongs because we know that God will make all things right." (Unknown)

- Christ's submission led to His crucifixion which brought salvation to the world. He who knew no sin bore our sins in His body on the cross to make atonement for our sins. "Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:4-6) Our sins were imputed to Him and His righteousness is imputed to us (to all who trust in Him as Lord and Savior and trust in His finished work of redemption at the cross). The greatest exchange of all time! He endured great pains, sufferings, and sorrows for sin so that we will be saved from sin and spiritual death. By His wounds, we have been healed from soul sickness caused by sin. He suffered and died so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. "Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness." (Romans 6:11-13)