Many people see the actions of others the way they are feeling inside or scanty evidence based on their biases rather than what is really going on.
If a person chooses to dislike you, for whatever reason, they will work at viewing all that you do in negative ways. Any language you use, any action you take will be seen in terms that delight the evil one. An example of this are the accusations against Christ, when He healed those who had faith, He was accused of doing it by the power of the devil. Even His most loving and kind acts were deliberately diminished and mocked in the eyes of those who wanted to hate Him.
God gives us everything we need to discern the accuracy of all that we encounter. He also gives us all the proper responses to every situation.
When we don't know how to respond, rather than reacting, we must take a pause and make no response until the Holy Spirit gives us the answer. Often, if we are walking with Christ, we will respond properly without thinking, it will be the Holy Spirit in us that gives us what we need when we need it.
John 16:13 "However when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak from Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come."
Matthew 10:19-20 "…19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. 20 For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."
The key to our responses to provocation, is in trusting the Holy Spirit while at the same time deeply knowing His mind through the study of His Word.
Psalm 119:10-11 "…10 With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. 11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. 12 Blessed are You, O LORD; Teach me Your statutes.…"
We don't have to sin in our responses to abuse against us, we can trust that the Holy Spirit will guide us to keep us from sinning against those who are hell bent on causing us to fall.
The world wants the believer to fall, it validates in it's own mind, the need for them to discredit our testimony. I have witnessed many times over the years, wicked people who deliberately taunted, mocked and covertly demean, simply to cause an ungodly reaction in the believer.
We cannot allow the unholy world to goad us into acting in ways that discredit Christ. We can become strong, un-reactive and steadfast to stand against these wiles of the devil.
I say "wiles of the devil" because he is the source of the tactics of the world.
1 Peter 5:7-9 "…7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.…"
If your reputation has been maligned, if you have been under attack while doing what you know to be right according to God's Word, do not fret, see it as a challenge to become more Christlike in the face of adversity.
When we no longer have a need to be accepted by man, we lose the desire to make them understand. We more easily walk away without guilt when someone demonstrates lack of respect, using covert tactics to cause a reaction. We can be free of these people, moving on to more healthy and kind godly relationships that we can grow up with, those who love what and Who we love.
When two people walk together loving Christ, there will be pleasure in honest communication, manipulation and intimidation will be absent from all our encounters.
When there is manipulation and intimidation to control others there is no love.
Here is what love looks like according to God:
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
"4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
Sometimes the most loving thing we can do for the wicked person, bent on destroying us, is to give the truth once and then walk away praying that God will work in them. It is not love to remain in their lives allowing them to continue their evil without any consequences.
God can do a better job than we, when it comes to handling difficult and stubborn people.
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