Do you ever look around at your surroundings and wonder why it seems that the suffering will never end?  It’s as if the more you grow to be like Jesus, the more you suffer at the hands of others.  Perhaps not a physical beating such as the one Jesus suffered, but rather from the choices others make concerning you, or the false judgments they make against you, or better yet those who simply don’t like you because you are who you are.

If you internalize this time as anything other than an attempt of the enemy to discourage you and get you to give up, to quit trying to live right and to be okay with fitting in with the world around you, then I’m afraid to tell you, you’ve completely missed God’s great plan in all of it. So many say “they want to be like Him.” But I ask today, do you really?  For the record I recall is this:

“He went to trial and the people were asked what are you accusing him of? They never came up with anything specific-they just called Him a criminal. The one who could’ve stood up for right and made the difference did otherwise and gave him over to His enemies.  This same one refused to take a position on one side of the fence or the other but questioned Jesus as if to cause Him to slip up and say something to justify handing him over. Jesus asked a few questions of His own.  Sadly, this man pointed out that it was Jesus’ very own that sold him out and that because of this, there must be something that Jesus had done wrong.”  (John 18: 28- 35 paraphrased)

Does this sound familiar in your own life?  Do you continue to look around or be overlooked and see things and decisions being made that simply do not make sense with the human eye?  Do you find yourself daily having to smile in the face of those you know are plotting evil directed at you by either by speaking up negatively or not at all?

Don’t get angry with them.  Pray for them!  So many are just like Pilate.  Feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place to do the right thing.  Afraid of being the next one on the chopping block because their faith has not grown to a level that puts doing what’s right above all else. Instead they find themselves operating as a chameleon to fit in with whichever group dominates the present situation.  Again, don’t be angry.  Pray for them for they are worse off than the one who has truly decided that they want nothing to do with a life in Christ.

I’m encouraging you today to muster up the strength to thank those who operate in this manner in your life.  YES-tell them thank you cause Jesus did. I’m so glad that He set the record straight when He made sure it was known, “you’re not hurting me, you’re just helping to ensure that I get where I’m needed the most.  On that cross to die for ALL of the sins of this corrupt world.”  (John 18:36-37 paraphrased)

Never forget that when the actions of others resemble the pain, rejection and unjust accusation that Jesus went through-He was without ONE sin and they still chose Barabbas-the robber (the one who steals)!!!

“Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.” John 18:40

They chose him then and they still continue to choose him today!