Forgive those who trespass against others
“If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely.” Sin affects the community not just the individual. Likewise, it is up to the community to forgive the individual. As if forgiveness for other’s transgressions against us wasn't hard enough, forgiveness for those who hurt our loved ones is even harder. Very often, we are willing to forgive those that hurt us, but we struggle forgiving those that hurt others. We think “Yeah, I’ll forgive you because Jesus forgave me.” Yet turn around and say “I will never forgive them for what they did to them.” The punishment of guilt is sufficient for those who sin. It is our role to forgive and comfort them so that they will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. We are to reaffirm our love for those who have wronged us.

O give us hearts to love like Thee
     Like Thee, O Lord, to grieve
Far more for others’ sins than all
    The wrongs that we receive
-Author Unknown-

Let em throw stones
For those who merely like to throw stones at us, let them. "Jesus’ greatest miracle is that he did not retaliate." The stones usually come when we least need them; the critics usually come when we least deserve them; the criticism usually comes from those least qualified to give it. The best in life can be swallowed up by the worst, and sometimes the worst comes in the form of mean-spirited attacks on our character. But the wisest of souls have always informed us not to expect too much of people. I live in a broken world with broken people who will frequently break my heart. Nevertheless, I am deeply loved by God. It is up to Him to give me what I need, when He thinks I need it. In the meantime, I am steadfastly kept in his care.

But God uses the worst that men can say about us to shape our character and strengthen us.  There may be more truth in your enemy’s words than in the counsel of your friends. We should expect every hostile comment to bring us closer to God. And remember, a calm man is more macho than an angry man.

Besides, why do we care so much about what other people say about of us? It is because we place too much value on our own reputations and the favor and appreciation of people.

“Get your friend to tell you your faults, or better still, welcome an enemy who will watch you keenly and sting you savagely. What a blessing such an irritating critic will be to a wise man. What an intolerable nuisance to a fool.” –Spurgeon-

“If your ambition is to avoid the troubles in life, the recipe is simple: shed your ambitions in every direction, cut the wings of every soaring purpose, and seek a little life with the fewest contacts and relations… Tiny souls can dodge through life; bigger souls are blocked on every side. As soon as men and women begin to enlarge their lives, their resistance is multiplied.” –Charles Briggs-

“This must be your retaliation—
Love and truth for hatred and lies”
—Rudolph Stier

We are a pleasing aroma
“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.”

We are the light of the world, the salt of the earth, and the potpourri of the land. Our very presence as Christians eases the tensest of situations and the darkest of places. A great example of this is the Christians in the Middle East who create a human barrier around Muslims who are praying.  The Holy Spirit in us works through us to shine, to liven up, to smell sweet. I am convinced that where we go, God’s power works even stronger. We are catalysts to His power and love. Likewise, we need to make sure we are rooted in good community bet spread throughout dark territory. Our homefront and our battlefront should be different places, but our time spent in each should be balanced. It is a constant motion of being filled up and poured out, filled up and poured out again. Rest is important. Service is important. Make sure you are living in a community that challenges and encourages you as well as a community that you bring life and light to.