12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly.
What a picture of Jesus living in a life. What a contrast between the actions of the world and the actions of obedient surrender. The world slanders and insult, systematically oppresses and harasses, and renders slanderous defamations. When the Holy Spirit is active in a life there is blessing, endurance and encouraging consolation. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather have the blessing, endurance and encouraging consolation. This is a life of struggle and competition, with ourselves and with others, competition that so often turns nasty and insulting. (Think about the political spectacle!) The truth gets buried under smear and innuendo. People don’t really want the truth, they want a tantalizing, scintillating story. But I want my life to be one that exudes blessing, endurance and encouraging consolation. As people come in contact with me I want to be known as someone who has been a blessing to others, someone who added eternal value to their lives. I want to be known as someone who has stood their ground in the face of trial and hardship. Of course that means I must have trials and hardship, and that I must respond in obedient trust. I also want to be someone whose shoulders have received the tears of others, whose hands have held trembling, grief-stricken pain, someone who has sat silently, weeping alongside those who are in pain. I don’t want a life of ease. I want a life of value, eternal value. That means I must be willing to be with pain in all its ugliness and destruction offering life, hope and relationship. Will you join me in this eternity project?
The Arnold Journey 