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. It starts with realizing our identity in Christ:

The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, (2 Timothy 2:24)

The term bond-servant, denotes one who is bound to another and who is controlled by another. In this context, it describes one who is not controlled by the flesh, but by the Holy Spirit. This is what is means to be free. Our freedom in Christ is not the right to do as we please, but it is the power to do what is right. In the ancient world, the only right that a slave had was the right to obey one’s master. Bond-servants of Christ cannot compartmentalize their lives as that which belongs to God, and that which is personal – all that we are belongs to God. Therefore, the Lord’s bond-servant is characterized by humility, obedience, and allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ. The result is Christ-like behavior.

Rather than escalating a quarrel with others, we seek to is show forth kindness and impart our perspective to the other person. You can’t effectively teach others if you’re 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. Paul revealed how this is accomplished:

with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, (2Timothy 2:25)

Gentleness is a characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit. The word correcting denotes the development of moral and responsible living. Those who are in opposition are often convinced their way is correct, so they need the supernatural gift of repentance to enable them to see the truth. The word for repentance literally signifies a change of mind that results in new behaviors and a full knowledge of God’s truth. Paul then revealed that the true enemy is the devil:

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 2:26)

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 spiritual forces in the heavenly realm.

Rick Higgins

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University