"Consider Him"
Whenever we consider ourselves to be unfairly accused or treated, our spiritual enemies tempt us to intense self-focus, self-pity, and self-protection. The temptation must be countered, and the Bible provides the sharpest of swords as our weapon of another and greater consideration.
"Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds… Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh… For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously (Hebrews 12:3; I Peter 3:18; 2:21-22).
"Consider Him" - this is point of the spear whereby we do battle with the world, the devil, and the flesh as they tempt us to walk in vengeance rather than victory, pity rather than power, and self-centeredness rather than the glory of God. We consider the Lord Jesus Christ, and thereby embrace the truth that the innocent One, when attacked, "endured… suffered… reviled not again… threatened not… committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously". Our Savior focused upon His Father rather than His own hurt feelings or the temptation to respond in kind to those who maligned or hurt Him. He made the choice to be "spiritually minded", wherein "life and peace" resides (Romans 8:6). In the moment of His trials, the Lord Jesus truly lived and knew peace of the heart. Moreover, the ultimate outcome resulted in a glory that could not have happened had our Lord responded carnally. "God hath given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… Before honor is humility" (Philippians 2:10; Proverbs 15:33).
The same path of challenge and opportunity awaits those in whom the Spirit of Christ now lives. Like our Lord, two paths of consideration lie before us when others hurt us. We can remain in the squalid, fetid swamp of considering how wronged and mistreated we are. Death abides there, the death of our realized experience of God's peace, joy, and involved presence. Or, we can "consider Him" and ascend unto the glory of a heart at peace, and of human faculties and sensibilities enabled to "be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32). This is life, the very life of God as revealed through the Holy Spirit's abiding presence whereby the Divine character, nature, and way leads us in peace, joy, and the realized presence of our Lord. Two paths. Two considerations. One way of tranquility of heart and power of life. The choice is ours, to dwell upon the wrongs of our offenders, or to "consider Him". Yes, two paths, two considerations, one way…
"Jesus saith unto Him, I am the way."
(John 14:6)
"Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor."
(Ephesians 5:2)
Weekly Memory Verse
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
(Psalm 20:7)
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