sermon: Simplifying Life (Part Three): Managing Human and Spiritual Relationships

David F. Maas
Given 21-Jun-25; Sermon #1824; 64 minutes

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Greetings brothers and sisters from Colton, California. Please turn to a familiar scripture.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

When we re-orient our focus from the under the sun to the over the sun perspective (which Mark Schindler has been emphasizing in his last two sermons, urging us to tune out the deafening cacophony and noise of the world, choosing instead to maintain a perpetual above-the-sun perspective, a distinctive perspective communicated with a still, small, tranquil, but firm voice), we will then have all our pressing needs met.

By placing God and His righteousness first, we are assured that our material and relational needs will be met, greatly simplifying the anxieties which inevitably complicate human interactions, as well as providing a moral compass which will ensure that all interactions with spiritual siblings, family, friends, neighbors, and ultimately enemies remain grounded in divine values rather than Babylonic worldly standards, striving to eliminate annoying, unnecessary conflicts, rooted in selfish, carnal desires.

Consequently, by seeking God’s Kingdom first, our priorities are dramatically reordered, transforming all human relationships into a singular reflection of our commitment to Almighty God, greatly reducing the perplexing complexity of balancing multiple, often conflicting obligations. Matthew 6:33 assures us that prioritizing our relationship with Almighty God provides the necessary catalyst to simplify our human relationships with our family, our spiritual siblings, and our neighbors.

In his April 18, 2015, message on “Prioritizing Our Lives,” Ryan McClure admonished us that developing a relationship with God should always occupy the dominant priority, with a laser sharp focus on our part, drowning out the noise of the world. Nothing should ever eclipse our relationships with God or our family.

In his January 2024 message, “Focus on the First,” Joseph Baity informed us that the key strategy to prevent losing focus on our priorities is the first part of the great commandment (Matthew 22:36-40), building a relationship and bond of trust with God through Bible study and prayer. When we neglect our daily spiritual exercise, our relationship with our Creator, like our physical muscles, will atrophy. We must cling with perseverance to that first part of the great commandment—to love God with all our essence.

When our relationship with God is continually nurtured through prayer, Bible study, and faithful obeying of His holy and spiritual laws, we acquire clarity and simplicity in managing human interactions, placing God and family above material wealth, ensuring that worldly pursuits never disrupt spiritual and familial bonds.

Last Tuesday, one of my former students sent me a comment written by a Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, which warned of how worldly distractions destroy productivity and severely complicates human relationships. Merton proclaims:

To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything is itself to succumb to the violence of our times. Frenzy destroys our inner capacity for peace. It destroys the fruitfulness of our work because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful.

In this third installment in the “Simplifying Life” series, we are going to focus on strategies for managing spiritual and human relationships, identifying strategies for upgrading our relationship with Almighty God, upgrading our relationships with our spiritual siblings, upgrading our relationships with our family, upgrading our relationships with worldly associates, and even extracting ourselves from toxic relationships which militate against our above-the-sun orientation.

Our relationship with Almighty God has to be protected above all other relationships because He is the only one who is the Source of life—both physical and temporal, but also immortal and eternal, as our Lord and Savior proclaimed in His High Priestly prayer in John 14:3, declaring “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, . . . whom You have sent.”

Our Creator, who has created us in His divine image, desires that we have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10) but demands that we make a conscious choice to follow His divine plan for our lives rather than yield to our evil carnal desires which inevitably lead to death. God challenged our vacillating forebears to choose life.

Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”

We realize that to us, His chosen saints, called out in the latter days from the first Pentecost until this very day, He has given an earnest payment of His precious Holy Spirit as a down payment on a glorified spirit body at our resurrection (II Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13-14) and furthermore promised to permanently write His holy and spiritual laws on our hearts (Hebrews 8:10,10:16; Ezekiel 11:19, 36:26; and Jeremiah 31:33).

As the late Herbert W. Armstrong often stated, “God will not budge an inch on sin,” encapsulating the revelation that Almighty God does not tolerate even the slightest deviation from His commandments. God’s justice and holiness demand strict obedience, allowing absolutely no room for compromise when it comes to sin.”

Remember the prophet Habakkuk proclaimed that Almighty God’s eyes are too pure to look upon evil. Habakkuk 1:13 disproves antinomian ministers who suggest that God is not obligated to keep the law, when, in reality, God’s character permeates His holy law, as it will permeate ours when we surrender to the shaping power of God’s Holy Spirit replacing our carnal nature with godly character. Please turn over to Luke 14, verse 26, where our Lord and Savior makes some extraordinary demands on His disciples, then and now.

Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”

The Amplified Classic Edition adds further clarifying details, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his [own] father and mother [in the sense of indifference or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God] and [likewise] his wife and children and brothers and sisters—[yes] and even his own life also—he cannot be My disciple.” Our Lord and Savior in Matthew 6:24 cautioned us that divided loyalties are dangerous and that no one can really serve two masters.

Matthew 6:24 (AMPC) No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in) [fame, power, or even our own lives].

Almighty God warned our ancient forbears on the Sinai that He was a jealous God (Exodus 20:5). We have heard several sermons, sermonettes, and articles differentiating human envy, illustrating that divine jealousy consists of maintaining the sanctity of a relationship between God and humanity, depicting it as a zealous protective love rather than negative hostility. Ronny Graham in his Forerunner articles “The Jealousy of God” and “Godly Jealousy: A Consuming Fire” provided some helpful insights on this apparent conundrum. Please permit me to read this passage from the Amplified Edition to provide additional enlightenment:

Exodus 20:5 (AMP) You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous (impassioned) God [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely mine], visiting (avenging) the iniquity (sin, guilt) of the fathers on the children [that is, calling the children to account for the sin of their fathers], to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.

We are reminded that Almighty God does not tolerate the transfer of the honor and worship that is due Him to any other being or object. God’s jealousy could be likened to a husband’s love for his spouse. For example, in Ezekiel 16:59-60, God compares Israel to an unfaithful wife, but His jealousy is not about control, but instead about deep protective love, proclaiming,

Ezekiel 16:59-60 For thus says the Lord God: “I will deal with you as you have done, who despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.”

Hosea, of course, dramatized the disgusting harlotry of God’s people, and the attempt to restore the covenant.

In James 4:5, we learn that God’s Holy Spirit jealously longs for us, not because God is needy for our attention, but because He knows that only by abiding in Him will we find true fulfilment. God’s jealousy for us is not negative envy, but instead He wants our worship for our own good. As the collective metaphorical affianced Bride of Christ, we dare not endanger our betrothal but instead remain singularly focused on developing our relationship to God the Father and our Savior and Bridegroom Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ’s half-brother James has warned us about the dangers of double-mindedness, including instability, restlessness, and profound confusion in everything he feels, thinks, or decides (James 1:8). The antidote to this horrible cognitive dissonance (trying to compartmentalize sin and righteousness) was also provided by Jesus’ half-brother as he counsels, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8). The Amplified Classic Edition adds the following clarifying details: “Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].”

In Matthew 22:34-40, our Lord and Savior responded to a gain-saying Pharisee as to what constitutes the greatest law, to which He responded that we are to love the Lord with all our heart, with all our soul, and all our mind, constituting the first and greatest commandment in the entire Scriptures. The second greatest command was to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus assures all believers that upon those two reciprocal or symbiotic commandments hang all the law and the prophets. The apostle John in his first epistle warns us that it is impossible to perform one of these commands without doing the other.

I John 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love whom he has not seen?

Obviously, we choose neither our physical or spiritual family, but our Lord and Savior has purposely commanded that we prioritize our spiritual siblings over our physical siblings.

Matthew 12:46-50 (NLT) As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.” Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven and sister and mother!”

To further complicate matters for God’s called out ones, our new revealed understanding is regarded as heresy and evil among our blood relatives, falsely labeling us as candidates for the Lake of Fire. Let us go back a couple chapters to Matthew 10, verses 34-36, identified in the New King James Version with the caption “Christ Brings Division.”

Matthew 10:34-36 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;’ and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’

The Amplified Bible adds the following clarifying details: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword [of division and belief]. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be members of his [own] household [when one believes and another does not].”

Many of us have faced rejection from family for rejecting the celebration of Christmas and Easter and the doctrine of the closed trinity—all considered as committing the unpardonable sin, requiring execution in the Lake of Fire. As the apostle John has warned us,

John 16:2-3 “They will put you out of the synagogues [make you outcasts]; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.”

Earlier in John 14:17, John assures all of God’s called out saints that currently most of the inhabitants of the earth have not been given the Holy Spirit-the Spirit of truth—and consequently regards the understanding of God’s saints as lies, foolishness, and total disinformation. Trying to reason with people without the gift of God’s Holy Spirit constitutes throwing pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6).

Proverbs 29:9 cautions us, “If a wise man contends with a foolish man, whether the fool rages or laughs (similar to the anger or laughter emojis on Facebook) there is no peace”—a similar result one might encounter when trying to teach a pig to sing, a total exercise of futility. Consequently, Almighty God instructs His called-out believers to prioritize the companionship of spiritual siblings over worldly associates. As a matter of fact, our Savior at His last Passover as a human being gave us a new command regarding our association with fellow believers.

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Now, brother and sisters, what do you suppose is the pronoun antecedent of “this”? Please scroll over to John 15 for the answer:

John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

The Amplified Classic Edition offers the following additional details: “No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his life for his friends.” The term “lay down one’s life” has dual application, one signifying martyrdom, such as Jesus Christ and Stephen, while the other signifies a lifetime of sacrificial service, looking after our siblings, edifying them with the spiritual gifts God has granted us, and being edified through the spiritual gifts God has given them, serving as interdependent metaphorical organs in the body of Christ.

In God’s church, we all serve one another (Romans 12, I Corinthians 12—twelve, of course, is Bullinger’s number signifying organization).

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The Amplified Edition offers the additional clarifying details:

Romans 12:1-2 (AMP) Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

Considering either the prospect of martyrdom for a fellow believer or a lifetime of service for a sibling in Christ, I am going to ask everyone in the sound of my voice to look around the room into every person’s eyes asking, “Could I actually lay down my life for this individual?” If our answer is negative, we are rejecting the new command He introduced at His last Passover as a human, which is the sole identifier of His disciples, then and now. It is impossible to serve the Body of Christ if we isolate ourselves from other spiritual siblings.

Please turn to Hebrews 10, verses 24-25 as the apostle Paul (or the writer of Hebrews), cautions about spiritual AWOL deserters and grumpy, crotchety, burned-out hermits who have solemnly vowed they will never follow another man:

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the Day approaching.

The Amplified Classic Edition offers the following additional clarifying details:

Hebrews 10:24-25 (AMPC) And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.

In his insightful October 22, 2024 article “The Importance of Christian Fellowship: Seven Reasons Why We Need Each Other,” Icent Francis identifies the following plaintive needs for fellowship among believers of Christ:

1.) Spiritual growth and encouragement,

2.) Accountability and correction,

3.) Sharing of burdens,

4.) Promoting unity in the Body of Christ,

5.) Worship and prayer,

6.) Establishing a witness to the world, and

7.) Preparing for eternity.

After the death of Herbert W. Armstrong in 1986, Almighty God mercifully scattered our previous fellowship, a large hierarchical monolith, into thousands of small splinter groups, ironically fulfilling Mr. Armstrong’s final commission to “emphasize the family,” virtually impossible in the mega-congregations like Minneapolis-St Paul, New York, Chicago, Big Sandy AM and PM (both well over a thousand apiece) and headquarters Pasadena—with Auditorium AM and PM-where the average member had a minimal task of praying and paying, leaving the important tasks to the evangelists.

In my early years in God’s church, the venue which felt most like family was the Rapid City congregation back in 1973, when our Pastor Bob Hoops insisted that each member of the congregation show hospitality to members coming into services from long distances like Billings, Montana, Gillette, Wyoming, and Pierre, South Dakota, participating in Sabbath services, Bible studies, pot lucks, and Spokesman Club, generating an intimacy and camaraderie that I have not witnessed until the diaspora of our previous fellowship into tiny family-sized fellowships like Colton, Phoenix, Louisburg, Magnolia, Mattoon, Hawkins, and even the emerging metropolis of Fort Mill.

Over the past 12 years, I have appreciated the encouragement and occasional rebuke and admonishment from my brothers here in Colton, from James Beaubelle, my occasional sparring partner Austin Del Castillo, and Arnie Fontaine—all for whom I would lay down my life. Though we have had some occasional donnybrooks and scriptural quarrels over the past decade, we always treasure our family relationship and seek each other’s counsel when things get turbulent.

Having to cope with living perhaps in the most politically misguided and badly-governed state in the entire nation, I find the bi-weekly meetings in Colton an oasis or place of safety and tranquility in an otherwise insane political environment.

Please turn to Proverbs 27, a text often used in our Spokesman and Ambassador Clubs.

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

The Amplified Bible renders the passage: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion].” Motivational speaker Icent Frances enthusiastically proclaims,

The Bible nails it in Proverbs 27:17. It’s like we are blades and rubbing against each other in fellowship keeps us sharp and effective. Without it, we risk becoming dull, losing our edge in this crazy world. But here is the best part—what it’s not about is being Bible trivia champions. It’s in those moments when the knowledge we intake actually changes the way we live that the importance of fellowship really shines through. I have witnessed friends find the courage to forgive, the strength to kick bad habits, and the wisdom to make tough decisions—all because they were surrounded by a community cheering them on and pointing them towards God’s truth.

Our current configuration of tiny family-sized flocks enables us to get involved with people who have endured the same problems or trials as we faced and have emerged victoriously, providing spiritual resources for us. Likewise, as we conquer a trial, a health problem, or a powerful temptation, we can serve as a resource person other spiritual siblings facing similar problems.

Jesus’s half-brother placed a high priority upon exhorting and rescuing a spiritual sibling who has stumbled in James 5. Please permit me to read this passage from the Amplified Edition:

James 5:19-20 (AMP) My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you strays from the truth and falls into error and [another] one turns him back to [to God] let the [latter] one know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save one’s soul from death and cover a multitude of sins [that is, obtain the pardon of the many sins by the one who has been restored].

The biblical guidelines for upgrading family relationships are addressed in Ephesians 5:21 to Ephesians 6:4. It would be well if speakers who desire to counsel family relations would begin with verse 21 rather than verse 22, because verse 21 stresses that all of God’s called-out ones are admonished to submit to one another in the fear of the Lord. Collectively, we are the affianced Bride of Jesus Christ. Consequently, this pivotal verse addresses maintaining harmony in relationships, especially within the family, by encouraging mutual submission out of reverence for our Savior Jesus Christ.

We need to prioritize family needs over our own personal desires, listening with empathy and continually serving one another in love. If we adopt a tone of humility, we will be able to diffuse potential conflicts, fostering a peaceful environment of respect, trust, and understanding in our homes.

Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Every member of the family has a unique responsibility to promote harmony and spiritual growth.

Children demonstrate honoring parents by showing obedience. Parents can nurture their offspring rather than frustrate their children if they use loving discipline and guidance, maintaining patience and willingness to forgive mistakes. This mutual responsibility is guaranteed to build a family environment reflecting God’s order in addition to fostering spiritual growth for all family members.

As ambassadors of God’s coming millennial Kingdom, we must reflect God’s righteous character, realizing that to besmirch it is to take His name in vain. Christ uses two vivid metaphors to depict His called-out ones in Matthew 5, namely salt and light. Please turn to Matthew 5, verses 13-16, metaphors that depict believers as salt and light.

Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

As ambassadors for God’s Kingdom, we cannot maintain a low profile in a venue of high visibility. Francis Chan, in his sermon-article “Living as Strangers and Aliens,” cautions us that “Interactions with worldly associates requires discernment to maintain spiritual integrity, while toxic relationships must be addressed by establishing boundaries and trusting God’s guidance.” Living in a world governed and inhabited by people without God’s Spirit of truth (John 14:17) ensures that God’s saints will encounter a plethora of toxic people with whom they will need to set stringent boundaries.

In her insightful January 14, 2024 article “What Does the Bible say about Toxic People,” Amanda Williams provides a helpful list, identifying common signs of a toxic person:

1. They are manipulative and try to control others. II Timothy 3:13: “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Manipulators deceive to control; the Bible warns that such people will increasingly deceive others.

2. They constantly criticize, judge, and put others down. James 4:11: “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law.” Scripture warns against a critical and judgmental spirit.

3. They play the victim and never take responsibility for their actions. Proverbs 28:13: “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” Playing the victim avoids confession; true change comes with acknowledgment and repentance.

4. They spread gossip and try to turn people against each other. Proverbs 6: 16-19: “These six things the Lord hates. . . one who sows discord among brethren.” Sowing division through gossip is explicitly named as something God hates.

5. They have explosive anger and rage issues. Proverbs 29:11: “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.” Scripture associates uncontrolled anger with foolishness.

6. They are envious of others and try to make them feel inferior. James 3:16: “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” Envy breeds strife and chaos—an environment toxic to godliness.

7. They are arrogant and self-centered. Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Pride and self-centeredness lead to downfall and are condemned.

8. They violate boundaries and show little respect for others. Proverbs 25:17: “Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he become weary of you and hate you.” This humorous but insightful proverb reflects the importance of respecting others’ space and boundaries.

9. They are dishonest, insincere, and frequently lie. Proverbs 12:22: “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.” God detests deceit and honors honesty.

10. They isolate others from friends and family. Proverbs 18:1: “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment.” Isolation, especially when used to control others, is condemned as foolish and self-serving.

If anyone exhibits one or several of these behaviors consistently, they are more than likely to possess a toxic personality. It is important that we learn to identify toxic people so we can protect ourselves and limit interactions with them. Further in her article, Amanda Williams identifies some specific types of toxic people all of us have encountered frequently, in our society, our family, and yes, from time to time in God’s church.

1. The Narcissist—Is self-absorbed, entitled, and constantly needs attention and admiration.

2. The Manipulator—Is charismatic, exploits others, and exerts control through guilt and shame.

3. The Victim—Plays the victim to get sympathy and avoid accountability for their actions.

4. The Critic—Judges, criticizes, and nitpicks everything others do.

5. The Bully—Intimidates others through verbal, emotional, and sometimes physical abuse.

6. The Drama Queen/King—Exaggerates everything and creates chaos for attention.

7. The Chronic Complainer—Whines constantly, is never satisfied, and drains your energy.

8. The Gossip—Spreads rumors and confidential information to create drama.

If we can identify these specific toxic types, we can recognize them more readily, enabling us to set appropriate boundaries. Near the conclusion of this fascinating article, we learn that our Lord and Savior developed a series of strategies to deal with toxic people which all of His chosen saints should learn and practice. Even though Jesus frequently encountered hostile and toxic people during His ministry, he nevertheless responded with compassion, wisdom, and grace.

Here are five distinct strategies in which Jesus encountered annoying difficult people:

1. Jesus avoided unnecessary conflicts. While He did not seek out a fight or showdown with people who opposed Him, nevertheless when confrontation was unavoidable, He faced it with courage and conviction. But He instinctively realized when it was best to walk away rather than engage hostile, toxic people who were eager to pick a fight.

Luke 4:28-30 So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which the city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

2. Jesus spoke truth with love. Even though Jesus confronted sin and blatant hypocrisy, He did not with condemnation, but out of love. For example, when He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, He did point out her sin but nevertheless offered her living water and the gift of salvation (John 4:4-26).

3. Jesus returned blessings for curses. When Jesus endured the humiliation of being mocked, spit upon, mercilessly flogged, and ultimately horrendous crucifixion, He responded “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). This behavior models how we can break the vicious cycle of bitterness and retaliation.

4. Jesus refused to retaliate. As Ted Bowling taught us in his sermon on “Taking an Insult,” Jesus admonished His disciples not to retaliate, but to “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39). When Peter impetuously drew his sword to prevent the mob from arresting Jesus, Jesus ordered him to put away his weapon, stating “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword” Matthew 26:52).

5. Jesus trusted that God would ultimately judge. Jesus made it clear to His disciples, then and now, that at the close of the age, God will separate the sheep from the goats, holding the wicked accountable (Matthew 25:31-46). But judgment is God’s prerogative, not ours. Consequently, Jesus committed Himself fully “to Him who judges justly” (I Peter 2:23).

Brothers and sisters, we have a long way to go perfecting this godly trait. But reflecting on how Jesus handled toxic people with grace, truth, love, and trust in the justice of God, we, as His followers can draw from His model when dealing with difficult failing relationships or numerous hostile critics in this fallen and reprobate world.