Being Treated Unfairly

First I would like to apologize for not getting my post up last week.  I realize now that if I would have properly planned I could have set one up prior to leaving the area and supplied you all with an on time blog.  I will be sure to pre set all future posts so that this does not happen again.  Also I would like to thank all who have stuck with this blog and have found it useful in daily life. 

We had our first comment two posts ago and I am thankful for that.  I would like to see what you have to say and use your comments for future posts.  Which is exactly what I am doing with this post, I will write what I think will answer the comment from Rami Swords who asked “how do you stay positive and treat everyone like a brother and sister when they refuse to treat you the same?”

This is a very good question is easy to answer in thought but hard to do in action.  First remember that you are not the one who judges others, God will judge them for their actions just as he will judge you for yours. 

Romans 14:9-12 (New International Version)

⁹ For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

 ¹⁰ You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister^[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. ¹¹ It is written:

   “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
   every tongue will acknowledge God.’”^[b]

 ¹² So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

With that in mind remember that how you react is up to you, if you react poorly to someone who treats you poorly then that was your decision.  The main point of this is that no matter how someone treats you it is how you treat them that really matters.

Matthew 18:25-36 (New International Version)

²⁵ Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

   ²⁶ “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ ²⁷ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

   ²⁸ “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.^[a] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

   ²⁹ “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

   ³⁰ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. ³¹ When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

   ³² “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. ³³ Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ ³⁴ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

   ³⁵ “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

This passage shows that we have been forgiven for all that we have done.   Just as the original debtor we have been forgiven our debt.  Also just like the original debtor we have others wrong us and treat them with no compassion or love that we have been shown.  We will be judged for the actions we chose to follow when our time comes.

John 15:20-22 (New International Version)

²⁰ Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’^[a] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.

This passage shows that we should not expect others to treat us well.  We are going to be persecuted and treated wrongfully.  It is how we act that shows who we are.  Jesus was beaten and murdered yet he proclaimed the word of God and did not bring hate or violence on those who persecuted him but showed them love and spoke to them plainly and honestly.  We are to follow him.

I feel that in this world the actions of a Christ follower are so much more pronounced than the words they speak.  We must act as Christ would in all manners, not just the ones we think are important.  This should be seen most in how we treat others, and our true colors will show when we are treated with anything other than kindness.  Just as God teaches and stretches us we will learn and be stretched by others who will be harsh on us.  How you act will show where you are and what you need to work on with your relationship with God.

Hebrews 12:6-8 (New International Version)

⁶ because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
   and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”^[a]

 ⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.

If you take anything from this remember the reason we are to show love, respect, and kindness to all is because that is what Christ did.  It is what the Bible tells us to do.  It is hard to act this way towards those who do not treat you well, however you are judged for how you act not how they act.  Now I understand that we have been given grace and we are judged through the blood of Christ.  That does not mean that we can act any other way then what we are asked to act.  We glorify God in our actions and we strengthen our relationship with him when we obey him. 

I hope this has helped you out Rami and I encourage all who read this blog to comment and ask questions.