Something Expected

Matthew 5:11-12

I recently read an excerpt by Jonathan Edwards on how we are to respond to mean attacks or false charges. He makes a point that it shouldn’t surprise us when we are victims of slander or gossip saying, “Men that have their spirits heated and enraged and rising in bitter resentment when they are injured act as if they thought some strange thing happened to them. Whereas they are very foolish in so thinking for it is no strange thing at all, but only what was to be expected in a world like this. They therefore do not act wisely that allow their spirits to be ruffled by the injuries they suffer.” Edwards point is that if the Christian expects to be slandered, as the bible has told us we will be, and we continue to focus on God when it happens, we will not be brought down by it. 


Questions for further thought:
1. Has someone ever said anything unkind to or about you? 

​2. Do you agree with Edwards in saying we shouldn’t be surprised when people treat us this way?  


​Challenge:  Pray about the next time this could happen to you and how you will decide to respond to it when it does.