| It is conceivable that we can attain such a | | | | me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is |
| degree of spirituality that no one can hurt | | | | your reward in heaven, for in the same way |
| us by anything they say. That possibly seems | | | | they persecuted the prophets who were before |
| a long way off for most of us. But it is | | | | you. (Matthew 5:11 - 12, NIV) This is an |
| obvious that, unless we start moving towards | | | | important scripture to remember when you are |
| such a position, we can never attain it. The | | | | under attack, if it is specifically because |
| Need For Perseverance This is still worth | | | | of your allegiance to Jesus Christ - whether |
| saying, because it underlines the fact that | | | | the attack be from non-Christians or, as |
| we do need to start moving - and to keep | | | | unfortunately sometimes happens, from fellow |
| moving. So: For this very reason, make every | | | | Christians. In such circumstances: blessed |
| effort to add to ... knowledge, self-control; | | | | are you, for you are suffering as Jesus |
| and to self-control, perseverance... (2 Peter | | | | suffered, for he also was a great prophet. |
| 1:5, NIV) ) But the perseverance here is not | | | | Thank God for the privilege of being to |
| to persevere in being hurt, nor even to | | | | experience what Jesus had to undergo so many |
| persevere in putting up with being hurt. It | | | | times. Every time he stood up to speak, for |
| is to persevere in learning how to deal | | | | example, there were Pharisees, scribes, |
| effectively with the hurt, how to avoid the | | | | priests, hanging on his every word - not |
| hurt, even when it is inflicted on us. There | | | | because of his wisdom, but so that they could |
| are two principle ways within a traditional | | | | attack him, insult him, discredit him. Can |
| development of Christian spirituality: 1.to | | | | you turn your suffering at the hands of |
| lay it off on the Lord; or 2.to use it to | | | | others into great joy because of the |
| identify with the suffering of Jesus, which | | | | privilege afforded you, to suffer as Jesus |
| is an opportunity presented to us by such | | | | suffered? In this way, the hurts are not so |
| events. Laying It Off To lay it off on the | | | | much laid off as converted into great graces |
| Lord means to take the hurt and, in some way, | | | | by the way we receive them. If we can grow |
| shift it onto the willing shoulders of Jesus. | | | | into this, no-one can every harm us, because |
| We can ask to be relieved of the hurt. This | | | | every harm, intended or otherwise, become a |
| is essentially a prayer for healing, | | | | great source of blessing! The breastplate of |
| specifically for inner healing, by saying | | | | righteousness covers our entire body and we |
| "Lord, I ask you to take this hurt from me", | | | | stand unassailed by the enemy. Then we really |
| or "Lord, I give this to you" or by using | | | | know the meaning of Paul's words: And we know |
| some similar phrase. If hurts are being | | | | that in all things God works for the good of |
| inflicted upon us, there are many scripture | | | | those who love him, who have been called |
| to use in calling upon the Lord for help, to | | | | according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28, NIV |
| be delivered from the hurts. e.g. The Lord is | | | | ) This is not an easy method. Its secrets |
| a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in | | | | will not be acquired in a day - nor in a |
| times of trouble. Those who know your name | | | | year! It is not for the spiritually |
| will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never | | | | squeamish. Our armour is destroyed when we |
| forsaken those who seek you. (Psalms 9: 9, | | | | begin to tell others about what we have |
| 10, NIV ) Such passages are of tremendous | | | | suffered - even more, if we tell them about |
| power to those of faith. Identify With The | | | | how we have dealt with it. It is of the |
| Sufferings Of Jesus The second approach is | | | | essence that our suffering is known to us and |
| initially to accept the hurt and to deal with | | | | to God alone - and he is the only other one |
| it using a quite different method. Do you | | | | who needs to know, who can know. But our |
| remember the ninth beatitude? Oh, yes, there | | | | growth in union with God will surely be |
| is a ninth (although many people only refer | | | | accelerated. The great secret is to find joy |
| only to eight) for "Blessed are you when | | | | in suffering because it so aligns us with |
| people insult you, persecute you and falsely | | | | Jesus. |
| say all kinds of evil against you because of | | | | |