Here’s just a thought (75)…

We have just returned from a three-month visit to our church members in Latin America. During this time, i was interesting to observe the way Easter was celebrated. There were huge processions through the cities, people carrying heavy crosses, some submitting themselves to self flagellation, images supported on the shoulders of rows of hooded bearers, people walking barefoot… But now all that has ended only to be repeated in similar fashion next year.

It made us think.

Is that the end of the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ until next year? Surely the significance of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus should be with us each day.

We were reminded, in a letter recently from a church member, of the way that Jesus can influence our daily life. He asked the question: “How do we react when being tried?” He quoted something that William Arthur Ward observed, “In the face of unjust criticism we can become bitter or better; upset or understanding; hostile or humble; furious or forgiving.”

Well, we cannot always control what happens to us, but we are responsible for how we react to what happens to us. It is almost certain that sometime in our life we are going to be subjected to unjust criticism.

During the trials of unjust criticism, it will be beneficial for us to think about Jesus and consider how our Lord faced this kind of treatment. He always reacted in the way that was pleasing to His Heavenly Father.

Peter tells us: “Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.” (1 Peter 2:23 New King James Version)

Paul also endured hardship and bad treatment: “To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.”(1 Corinthians 4:11-13 New King James Version).

Notice it was their own countrymen who mistreated both the Lord Jesus and Paul. We have such wonderful examples of their dedication to the Will of God in the pages of the Bible. Take your Bible from the shelf and read about Jesus and the promises that will be fulfilled when He returns to the earth and sits on God’s throne in Jerusalem. Christ died for us all and is not willing that any perish but that all may come to repentance.

We are happy to mail to you, free of charge, a monthly magazine Glad Tidings and/or pamphlets on Bible subjects. Please visit our site on www.thisisyourbible.com or mail us at Apartado de Correos 200, 46780 Oliva, (Valencia). Paul Ward (paulpgw@hotmail.com)