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“I can’t get over what he said about me! How dare he treat me that way? You’re my wife, Trina. Why aren’t you on MY side?” Geoff ranted. “He makes me so mad I could just…”
“Whoa, wait just a minute, hon. We’ve known him for years. I can’t believe he would really do such a thing.”
“Look, I have it from a very reliable source. This is nothing but slander!”
“Geoff, you weren’t there. Maybe it’s some kind of misunderstanding.”
“Oh yeah, it is. He’s misunderstanding the fact that I will never step foot in his place of business again. He’s got mush for brains if he thinks he’s gonna get away with this.”
“Come on, Geoff. Snap out of it! You have to calm down and go talk this out with him before your blood pressure skyrockets.”
“No way am I going to him. I figure he should come to me and apologize for being such a jerk.”
“Fine, I’m tired of listening to you. Do whatever you want. I’m going over to Jenny’s.”
I Peter 3:9 – Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
* * *
Darkness fell on another day of traveling from house to house, sharing the good news with the tribe they lived and worked among. Weary and grimy from the dusty roads, the missionary couple returned to their own home. They tried to ignore the curses, malevolent looks, and threats of the tribal people. Those who reviled them were only hiding their fear of the unknown. And pride often would not allow new ideas to change their way of living. Still, the rejection stung. There was only one thing to do: pray. So they knelt, continuing to beg the Lord for the souls of those they had grown to love with His love.
Matthew 5:11,12 – Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
* * *
“Take THAT! And THAT! Aren’t you the Christ, the Chosen One? Some king you are! Where’s your royal robe? And your loyal subjects? What's wrong, too weak to answer? If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself! Defend yourself! Alright then, just take your punishment!”
Isaiah 53:3,7 – He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not…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.
(All scriptures are quoted from the New International Version.)
Karri F. Compton
November 1, 2004
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