TODAY’S WORD FOR WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2016.
MISUNDERSTOOD
To understand or interpret incorrectly; attach a wrong meaning to; unappreciated; misjudged.
And being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously. I Peter 2:23.
It hurts to be misunderstood. When our motives are right and our actions are above reproach, we want to be accepted and appreciated and it hurts when our purpose is misunderstood and we are rejected.
Jesus understands our anguish and pain when we are misunderstood because He knows our heart. Christians, especially those who have a good relationship with the Lord, are mocked and made fun of for their faith in Jesus and their Christian values. But Jesus understands because no one has been more misunderstood and mocked more than Jesus.
Judas was one of Jesus’ disciples but he had no understanding of the mission and purpose of Jesus being on this earth. Judas though that Jesus would overthrow the Romans and set up a new government.
Even the religious leaders of that time misunderstood who Jesus was. They knew the scriptures and of all people they should have been the ones to understand that Jesus was their Messiah. But instead they saw Jesus as a threat to their positions and power because of His popularity. The Scribes and Pharisees could not accept that Jesus was the Son of God. They actually thought He was from Satan (Matthew 12:24).
The people who lived in Nazareth, the home town of Jesus, misunderstood who Jesus was also. Matthew 13:55-58 tells us that they saw Him only as the carpenter’s son and they took offense at Him. Even those who knew Him best misunderstood who He was.
King Herod also misunderstood Jesus. When he heard the reports about Jesus and His miraculous works, Herod thought Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead. In the verse we have put above from I Peter we read that Jesus was reviled, abused and maligned, with abusive and vile language. His response was to never retaliate with vicious words or threats. Instead He entrusted Himself to God, His Father. Jesus came into the world knowing He would suffer. He was able to endure suffering with patience and assurance because he was confident God was in control.
To be misunderstood usually brings frustration and bitterness. The usual response is to withdraw, sulk, or immerse ourselves in self-pity. This is not the way the Lord would have us respond. Instead, we are to face suffering as Jesus did with patience and endurance having confidence that God is in control of our future.
When we have suffered because of a misunderstanding we can be sure that God understands our pain. Romans 8:28 tells us that all things work for good to them that love the Lord. The enemy, Satan, uses being misunderstood for his purposes but God can and will use the circumstances of misunderstanding for good in a believer’s life.
When we turn our misunderstandings over to God, then by God’s grace, He will turn the situation around and bring us into a new and stronger relationship with Him.
Our memory verse for this week is found in Isaiah 1:18.
Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Help me, dear Father, to allow You to use the hurtful misunderstandings in my life for good. Give me a spirit of forgiveness and a sensitive heart toward those who wrong me.
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