A few days ago I was driving down the road, going about 40 mph, when a car pulled out in front of me. I slowed down but didn’t slam on my breaks. The driver then proceeded to put his entire arm out the window, lifted straight up in the air, then gave me the finger. Initially I didn’t think he could be upset at me. After all he pulled out in front of my car. What did I do to make him angry? After a few seconds I concluded that he was communicating with me. Anger began to boil within.
Then the words of Jesus came to mind, which I had read that morning: “bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Lk 6:28). So I blessed him in the name of the Lord. And I prayed for him.
I cannot take any credit for that response. I was heading in one direction with my emotions, but the words of Jesus interrupted me and took me in another direction. All we have to do is allow the words of Christ to live inside of us and we will start responding in unusual ways.
After graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I served as a high school Bible teacher in Asia. I enjoy traveling, writing, and playing the drums. For a deep dive into church history and the character of God, see my book Surprised by Hell.
I agree …..as we come to gradually better understand (our Christian failures) as we grow and change during our lives…..our natural human emotions will NEVER disappear. But usually will diminish to some extent . Partly simply because of just growing older and less sensitive. That is the reason for “The Message of the Cross” we hear constantly quoted. And rightly so. There is one thing that WILL actually help I have discovered in my own life. I was born with a peculiar type of hot temper that is obviously genetic since it has existed in almost all of my immediate male (an a few female) paternal family We are not easily given to “losing our temper”…but when pushed to extreme circumstances the result is a complete breakdown of reason and sometimes simple sanity. About 7 or 8 years ago after such an occasion I prayed “Lord please help me stop this…I have tried so hard…Please help..I can’t stop this” Nothing much happened…no voices or just “knowing” from anywhere at that time.
Gradually over the next weeks something changed in my understanding of how to pray about it. I kept trying to “try harder…and naturally failing” causing me more guilt and despair …even worried that God had turned away and given up on me and my failures. The verses in the Bible about answered prayer being prayed ACCORDING to His Will always being answered began to suddenly stand out,,,especially the verse that pointed out not even human fathers would give their son a snake when their son asked them for bread…How much more God would give them good things they needed in order to do the fathers will! That opened my eyes to more faith in my prayers and a better understanding of how to pray! I had been asking God to help ME fight my human nature myself …believing it was ME that had to get strong enough to overcome the way I was born. That is impossible. What I needed was to pray for God to come into me through in dwelling of the Holy Spirit and defeat the sinful part of my human nature FOR me. It worked more like a spiritual healing of my emotions ..a change in my physical genetics. I haven’t had an episode like I so often had in many years now. I still get angry….but no more progressing into temporary insanity phase . Everyday now for years I have prayed the same simple prayer several times a day.
Lord please give me more of your Holy Spirit…more Faith and more Understanding of your perfect will for me. Thank you for my Salvation through Jesus on the cross and your many blessings and protection….In Jesus Name Amen. We need to believe what we we pray and I do 100% according to the ability God gives me. Best Will M
Yes, the Spirit of Christ lives within his people (Rom 8:9). This is a vital truth. But we easily forget the Spirit and try to do things in our own strength. We should ask for God’s Spirit (Lk 11:13) and be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18).
Yes, remembering Jesus’ words does stop us from retaliation . As you say , there is a struggle sometimes , but God does give us the grace to forgive when we we genuinely ask Him to enable us to do so.