My earlier article on this subject "Blessings, Tangential and Other, Lemons into Lemonade" is not as strong as I'd like. Maybe the title is a problem, maybe the problem is I really want folks to know that to be treated badly is not an excuse to blame the victim, maybe the problem is this is such a hard concept to grasp that I may have fallen in to the trap of so many other folks, I tried to sugar coat it.

One of the biggest problems today, literally and metaphorically, is most folks can't stand to hear the truth or eat regular food; nearly everything has a crazy amount of sugar, or fat, in it. Jesus does say the world can't accept the Spirit of Truth he gives us believers. I'm also sorry to report it seems many, so-called believers, are also quick to reject it as well. [John 14:16-17] They judge by appearances or by gossip. And human standards. [John 8:15]

(Some) People gladly accept the notion of resurrection , but they have a strong distaste for the notion that being treated badly is a blessing (in disguise). As I mentioned in my other article, this is not an invitation to mis-treat others, or even yourself. That is sin. That is evil.

What I am referring to, what Jesus spoke about, is when people not only physically mistreat you, but mentally. Some folks are brazen enough to screech lies in your face, this is the same evil that kidnappers perform when they tell their victims they deserve their bad treatment. Some folks would rather put on a saccharine smile and if they have a problem with you, they can't seem to think clearly enough to raise questions, so instead they slander you behind your back, either flat-out lying, misrepresenting the truth, or adding a crooked interpretation as they describe it to others.

All of these bad things are what Jesus referred to when he told us to patiently endure. All of these things, I believe, are why God said to Yeshua, "sit by my right hand until I put all your enemies under your feet." [] You must remember that this world is like a backwards version of heaven. Did Jesus say the high and mighty powers of this world are the high and mighty powers in heaven? Did he say the rich people on earth were the wealthy ones in heaven? Did Jesus say God loves the things humans love? [] Did God have Jesus say it's a blessing when every says good things about you? [] OR did God have Jesus say it was a blessing when people lie and spread deceit about you? []

Did it hurt when people shouted insults at him "if you are the son of God, come down off the cross", "he saved others from death, why can't he save himself"? [] and on and on, no doubt if he were around today, I'm sure some would call him a failed carpenter who can't hold a job and needs to go around mooching off others, that there must be something wrong with his mind/body since he's not trying to hook up with women. Of course it hurt. This is part of the symbol of the crown of thorns.

Remember, we are not trying to subjugate and conquer the world, but our response to it.

Remember Haman [Esther]. There are tons of people seeking their own glory, or are being paid to glorify others. But remember that even Jesus said, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing!" [John 8:53-54] Keep this in mind as people try to slam you, they'll ask you about your credentials, where you went to school, how many degrees you have, who you know, but the fact is that NONE of that stuff has to do with the concept spoken. Jesus didn't say "believe me because I am the Son of God", he said ~ believe me because I tell the truth, try out what I am saying and see if I speak the truth or not.

This is why Jesus explicitly thwarted those who tried to ask him on what authority he spoke and did the disruptive things he did. [John 2:18, Luke 20:8, Mark 11:33, Matt 21:27] All that stuff people shove in your face is a smoke screen so they can push what you said out of their minds and not have to think about it. Remember that Jesus praised God for showing things to the innocent and hiding them from the "wise and learned". [Matt 11:25-26]

So if you hear something you think is objectionable (or not), consider it for its own sake, on its own merit, ask God in your heart to help you shine light on it for understanding, don't reject it because the person saying it was shabbily dressed, or a kid, or unemployed, or fat, or ugly, or handsome and fit.

More people have repented due to someone being nice back to their meanness, than have repented when being hit with bigger blows than they doled out!