Daily devotional, July 16, 2024 Bash
“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,correcting his opponents with gentleness.” 2 Timothy 2:24-25
I grew up in the time when the word “bash” meant something positive. Like it was something you have to be excited about since it usually involves a celebration — birthday bash, anniversary bash etc. Nowadays, the word “bash” usually means negative, like hitting someone hard especially online.
This type of bashing is not uncommon even during biblical times. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, was not even immune to it. It is just that, the bashing He received is IRL or in-His-face bashing, unlike what most people experience through social media.
"So he questioned him at some length, but He made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him."
Luke 23:9-11
The above mentioned bible passage was during the latter part of Jesus’ life, but early on in His ministry He received already a lot of criticisms.
He was even rejected in His own hometown. Jesus’ critics were so enraged that they even tried to push Him off of a cliff, after He said in the synagogue that He was the fulfillment of the prophecy about a Messiah.
"When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath.And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, He went away." Luke 4:28-30
Another instance was when Jesus alluded to Himself as the Son of God. Again, his bashers really got so worked up, they tried to stone Him.
"So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple."
John 8:59
Regardless of these bashings though, our Lord continued with His ministry. He did not let His critics hinder His work, and He remained focused on the mission the Heavenly Father has for Him. As followers of Jesus we ought to take a cue from our Messiah, as to how we should react upon receiving hate whether online or in real life because of our God-honoring lifestyle. Here are some of the lessons we may want to keep in mind the next time we experience ill-treatment from others:
1. Accept that not everyone will support you, but continue doing what you need to do anyway. As He spoke in the Synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus faced much criticism when He said He was the embodiment of the prophecy of Isaiah. In spite of the rejection, the Messiah just went on with His work and just accepted the fact that usually, people familiar to you are the ones most doubtful that God’s work is manifested through you.
"And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown."
Luke 4:24
2. Just accept the criticism and stay humble. If we know that what we are doing honors God, then we should think of the bashing as our way of being one with our Messiah. In His Sermon in the Mount, Jesus mentioned that we ought to feel happy when we are persecuted when we do good in His name.
"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Matthew 5:11-12
3. Just pray for your critics. When faced with criticism in spite of living a Godly life, just stay humble, and draw strength from prayers. Jesus modeled this to us as He prayed for His persecutors whilst He was hanging on the cross, waiting to die.
"Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots."
Luke 23:34
4. Shake it off and move forward. When Jesus was preparing His disciples to spread the Gospel, He reminded them that they should just shrug off rejection. He assured them that when they get rejected they should just move on. This is especially true if we are endeavoring to share the gospel or inviting people to church or a bible study group and then we get brushed off.
"And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words,shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town."
Matthew 10:14
5. Lastly, we should calm ourselves down, and reflect on the life of Jesus. If He is our master, and He was not exempted from ill-treatment of other people, what more are His servants?
"Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also."
John 15:20
To have God’s peace in the face of persecution, we ought to live Christ-honoring lives. When we do so, we can have the assurance that no matter what other people say about us and life we live, our Lord knows us, and sees everything. He sees all the effort that we exert to live a godly life.
"He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”
1 Peter 2:22-23
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on 2 Timothy 2 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: How do you react to your bashers? What can Jesus’ example teach you?
Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for giving us a template to follow as we face criticism in our faith journey. Allow us to become as patient as you, and just endure these for your sake. Calm my heart Lord, and always remind me that you know everything and so whatever they say should not matter to me, as long as I remain with you.
