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