Bless or Curse – Philippians 1:27a
Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Fly away with the Lord to a place above turmoil and strife, to a place where He resides. He will lead you to this haven if you will set yourself apart for Him, giving Him first place, dedicating yourself to praising, knowing, and obeying Him. He will dwell with you and surround you with His glory if you will love Him above all else and love others as yourself, blessing them rather than cursing them, forgiving them all wrongs, upholding them.
If you desire to abide with Jesus in that much sought after place of peace and joy, choose to bless and not curse. When someone treats you with unkindness or disrespect, choose to glorify God rather than defending yourself. As a creation imbued with free will, the choice is yours. You may answer with a curse if you so desire, but remember that our lives are not about preserving ourselves, but about serving God and bringing glory to our Lord. As a follower of Jesus, emulate Him by turning the other cheek when slapped,[1] by responding not with defensiveness and retaliation, but with a Spirit-led righteousness appropriate for the circumstance. Demonstrate the character of our Lord who is kind toward the unthankful and evil, merciful to those undeserving of mercy.[2] In charity, respond with sacrificial love anticipating the good your obedience will bring, for by promoting God’s kingdom on earth and reflecting Christ’s gentle disposition, rather than defending your rights and territory, you leave room for the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit.
Weigh the two, blessing or curse, peace or turmoil, kindness or bitterness. The choice seems clear, but pride, anger, and vengeance can cloud our thinking. Choose well; choose to bless. Live as the adopted son or daughter of the King; live without strife, in dignity, demonstrating a grace that reflects your royalty. As one who is heaven-bound, having rights reserved for you to the fruit of the Tree of Life,[3] you can afford to be generous when provoked. Instead of neglecting your high position in Christ, determine to be a reflection of God’s love, and you will be free to soar above the disquietude that comes with striving for the glorification and gratification of self.
With grace and compassion, which
God will give as you seek to glorify Him by yielding your life to the Holy
Spirit who indwells you, walk in humility.
Keeping no account of wrongs, bless others,[4] and praise the Lord with gladness and joy.[5]
[1] Matthew 5:39
[2] Luke 6:27, 35-36
[3] Revelation 22:14
[4] Romans 12:14
[5] Psalm 135:1
