Peace Begins Inside Us
Romans 12:21 - Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (NIV)
Just a few months after my arrival at my first posting on a native reservation
out on the prairies of Canada in 1987, I was informed that I was to lead the
three nights' wake service of a young man who was killed in a gang fight. Then
on the third night, while the family and I were discussing the funeral the next
day, one of the elder brothers of the deceased person, a rising native movie
star in Hollywood, arrived late and asked his parents, "Who's officiating at the
funeral?" His mother pointed at me with a smile and said, "He is -- our new
pastor." He looked at me and said, "No, I don't want him. I want Rev. "X" [my
predecessor] to do it."
I had never been humiliated like that in my entire life. His parents were quite
shocked by his rude behaviour, but it was too little, too late, for them to undo
the embarrassment. I just gave them an "I understand" look with a courtesy smile
and left silently. But I went home that night feeling deeply wounded. Well, I am
young and inexperienced, and, after all, it's a big funeral anyway, and I'm not
even sure if I can handle it. I tried to comfort myself, but down deep inside I
was furious with misery and hatred. During my struggle, however, I was more
afflicted with disappointment about my pride, than about the insult.
As I prayed to God for strength to overcome my pride, suddenly I began to
visualize the scene of the Lord Jesus on Good Friday vividly. I saw the Roman
soldiers mocking at Him, spitting at Him on His face, kicking Him, hitting Him
with straps, and then nailing Him on the cross to die slowly, horribly, and
painfully. How terrible the way He had to suffer that day, and what was my pain
in comparison with His? Really, it was nothing but a mosquito's bite.
What amazed me most was the fact that Jesus neither showed anger nor cursed
those who hurt and humiliated Him. Instead, He said to God, "Father, forgive
them, for they don't know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34 NIV) That's why He
is called the Prince of Peace. The world was hostile to God, but God wanted to
make peace by hanging His Son on the cross. He overcame evil with good, and that
is what true peace is all about. Peace is not from destroying our enemies but
conquering them with good.
I thanked God for showing me how to deal with humiliation and hurt. Peace in my
case must begin with me by forgiving the person who wronged me. So I prayed to
God for strength to support the family with all my heart, regardless of what
happened to me, and I asked God to comfort the mourners.
Two hours later, I received a phone call from the family saying that Rev. "X"
could not come, and asked me if I could do the funeral. "Certainly," I replied,
"I'll be deeply honoured to do it." I stayed up late that night and promised God
that I would do it excellently and do it all for His sake.
Consequently, the family was deeply touched and grateful for my kind response,
and although the elder brother never did apologize to me verbally, he exhibited
it in his actions. He thanked me and proudly introduced me to every one of his
friends as his favourite new pastor and buddy. I had been so close to losing my
composure and thus my peace during the experience. Had I followed my sense of
resentment, I would have done the funeral with little care or even unlovingly,
and the family would have understood it and moved on, but I would never have
received that kind of respect, gratefulness, and love from them.
James 4:10 - Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you
up. (KJV)
Prayer: Dear God, while the world was hostile to You, by right, You could have
just wiped them off the face of the earth, but instead, You chose to make peace
with them by allowing Christ, Your Son, to be hurt, humiliated, and then die
horribly on the cross. The cross is the price You paid for peace, and that's
often difficult for us to follow, but grant us enough of the beauty and power of
humility that You may lift us up. May we learn by Christ's example that peace
indeed begins inside each of us. In His name, we pray. Amen.
Andrew Apack Song andrewapack@gmail.com
Elora, Ontario, Canada
Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca