Just Stand

Sometimes you do everything you can to do the right thing. But there will still be people who misunderstand you, judge you and slander your name. What then? What do we do when we’re doing everything we can to serve people well, choose righteousness, lead our family or anyone it is that we’re leading, and still people slander our good name? I remember my parents saying something once, actually a few times… ”In ministry, the people you love and serve the most will be the ones to hurt you the most” It’s certainly difficult not to become cynical and wonder … God, why don’t they just apply Mt 18 and come talk to me the way you taught us? or… God, what is wrong with people?

You have to realize that some people like conflict. Sadly, they revel in extending conflict and involving as many people as possible - to circle the wagons - to raise the stones - all without meeting privately, humbly and asking for clarity. Often, they have trauma in their past that is re-surfacing. Things they haven’t dealt with and truly let the Lord heal. Now, lucky you, you get to be the brunt and focus of their offense. One thing you did or said triggered an old emotion and opened an old wound.

Sometimes you don’t need to defend yourself. They’ve already come to their conclusions whether they’re true or not. Sometimes all you can do is just stand.

Ephesians 6:13-14 declares, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm …”

Know that He will “fight for you against your enemies to give you victory” Deuteronomy 20:4

This same promise was given to Moses in Exodus 14:14 as Pharaoh began to pursue the Israelites after their defiant rebellion against him. The people of Israel, who were used to being slaves, barely mustered the courage to leave Egypt and follow Moses now watched as their captors were quickly approaching them. The dust cloud from 600 chariots had to be terrifying!

God promises Moses 10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:10-14

God will fight for you, you need to just stand. Stand in what you know to be true. Give it your very best whether you’re at work or at home, treat people the way you want to be treated and when people mistreat you, don’t get revenge. Justice is God’s job, not yours according to Scripture.

There is only ONE that you and I will stand before and that is JESUS. You’ll never meet everyone’s expectations as many form those expectations around prior experiences and what they deem to be most important. Don’t feel the need to jump through their hoops.

So friends, when people want drama, just say “no thanks.” When they want to pull you down in the slimy pit of their slander, humbly step away. Choose to honor people and give grace no matter what. *Yes, there are times Biblically when someone needs to be removed from your life. More on that in the next article “What Happened To Honor?” In the words of Leadership Guru Dave Ramsey, “Don’t let someone eles’s urgent become your urgent.”

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:8

When people do their best to compel you to join them in their angst, simply ask, “Have you talked directly with this person about how you feel? Have you applied MT 18, MT 5, and the other passages that teach you to go directly to the person aiming for reconciliation?” They’ll be shocked by your question because after all, they want their offense to become your offense. Misery loves company as they say.

I can’t help but think of Paul and his desire to see the jailer saved - the very man who put shackles on his hands and feet, he desired to save his eternal soul and was ready to not only forgive him but give him the Gospel - revealing God’s forgiveness for him. WOW! Lord, make me like Paul, like Jesus, ready to forgive those who are quick to speak evil and those who don’t know what they’re doing. Read the rest of Romans 12