The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:24)

What is your response when you face opposition? Our natural response is a tendency to defend ourselves. Oftentimes the greater the attack, then the greater the antipathy we have toward the other person. The Apostle Paul presented a strategy that enables us to develop compassion rather than harboring anger toward those who are opposing us.

Paul points out our identity as a bond-servant of Christ. As a bond-servant of Christ we are not controlled by the flesh, but by the Holy Spirit. God gives us the ability to respond with grace and gentleness. Rather than escalating a quarrel with others, we seek to is show forth kindness and impart our perspective to the other person. We can’t effectively teach others if we are acting in an antagonistic manner. It’s not our natural ability to be patient when wronged, we need God’s supernatural power to maintain our equanimity when we’ve been treated unfairly.

We cannot change other people, but God can change them. The word for repentance literally signifies a change of mind that results in new behaviors and a full knowledge of God’s truth. The phrase come to their senses literally means to become sober and it describes one who has emerged from a drunken stupor and into one’s right mind. Rather than having anger toward the individual who is opposing us, we can start to develop compassion and realize that this person is in bondage to the devil. Are you facing opposition? Remember that our battle is not with flesh and blood, but the real enemy is the devil.